Urbs Indomita: The Indomitable City

Upon its settlement, Sacramento Calif. was given the nickname "Urbs Indomita" (The Indomitable City) because its citizens where not easily subdued. The city's early settlers did not surrender to the natural disasters or disease that plagued the region in which they desired to thrive, literally moving the American River – and raising their city above it – to create a viable community. Over 150 years later, that fighting spirit and will to endure still lives in California's capitol. Urbs Indomita Magazine and Urbsindomita.com are tributes to Sacramento's rich history and fighting spirit, as well as a celebration of its culture, landmarks and prodigies.

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Causeway Comeup

The NCAA tournament has ended, but in the Sacramento area, College hoops are just looking up.

Story and photos by Jorden P. Hales

Senior guards Corey Hawkins, (pictured above), and Mikh McKinney (pictured below), were leading scorers for UC Davis and Sac State, respectively during the 2014-15 season. Their contributions have captured the attention of local high school players, which may help the programs maintain this year’s unprecedented success going forward.

Stephen Curry, a two-time NBA All-Star, MVP candidate and leading scorer for the league-best Golden State Warriors recently paid a compliment to one of Northern California's purest scorers, telling him he had watched his games and that he was "ballin'." The recipient, like Curry, stands 6-foot-3, has received All-Star honors and is known to his rivals as a preposterously good three-point shooter (49.1 percent). He is Corey Hawkins of the UC Davis Aggies, who's historic performance earned him a Player of the Year award from the Big West Conference last month. "That's one of the greatest compliments I've ever had," the senior guard tweeted shortly after his exchange with Curry. But, Curry is not the only member of the basketball world to have taken notice; anymore than Hawkins is the only local to have garnered such attention. Just a 15-minute drive across the Yolo Causeway, senior Mikh McKinney has become anAll-Star himself. The 6-foot-1 guard — who averaged 19.4 points per game for Sac State during the 2014-15 season — was recognized by the Associated Press as an honorable mention All American in March. He is the first Div. I College Basketball player in the School's history to receive such honors. "The college basketball scene has exploded regionally," said Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee sports writer and co-host of The Bee Preps Show on Comcast SportsNet California. "Sac State and UC Davis (had) breakthrough, record seasons in Div. I, coincidentally at the same time, which adds a layer to the rivalry with the two programs. And it all starts with coaches." One of the transcendent leaders mentioned by Davidson is Sac State's Brian Katz, who was named mid-major basketball coach of the year after bringing the Hornets to the brink of a conference title this spring. Katz is a local product, having graduated from Sac State in 1980 and coached at Center High School in Antelope, Calif. during the late 80s. Kings fans may remember Aggie head coach Jim Les from the early 90's, when he spent four seasons with the team as one of its resident three-point specialists. "They're terrific recruiters. It took them a while to get going," Davidson said of the two front men. "They've lost more than they won. 15 wins was the benchmark of breaking past mediocrity or misery. Now they're both legitimately talking about conference championships. I think it's great for this region. The fans love a winner and both teams have been selling out." Neither the Hornets, nor Aggies were able to win their respective conference tournaments in 2015, with Sac State coming just one win short of hosting the Big Sky tournament. These results were a bitter disappointment to the teams and their supporters, as the winners of the Big West and Big Sky conferences qualify for the NCAA tournament. Neither has ever made the tournament as a Div. I program. But, neither program is pouting, or accepting its recent achievements as a peak. Years of persistence from Katz and Les has, as Davidson said, "exploded" the profile of college basketball in the area to unprecedented prominence, and local talent has taken notice. "I see Sac State is doing a heck of a job right now, beating a lot of teams," said Mister Harriel, who will be representing Antelope High School in the Optimist All-Star Game on April, 11. Les is aware that maintaining success — and possibly outdoing it — is an entirely new endeavor, one he believes the staffs and players of both programs are already helping them peruse.   "Winning breeds winning. You've Gotta' make that first step and 'climb the mountain,' so to speak," Les said. "Now the big challenge is, once you get up there and have a degree of success, it's maintaining that. But when you get success and the exposure we're getting, it attracts good players and gets our message out there. Those work hand-in-hand in continuing to have success, so that's our expectation." There are six players who played high school basketball in the greater Sacramento area between the two rosters. Junior J.T. Adnerele of Roseville, Calif.'s Oakmont High School, Darius Graham of Sacramento High School and Josh Ritchart, of Forest Lake Christian High School in Auburn, Calif. are all major contributors for the Aggies. Cody Demps of Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, Calif. and brothers Eric and Mason Stuteville of Casa Roble High School in Orangevalle Calif. are all part of Sac State's program. "We want to be active in the Sacramento region," said Les. "And getting, for us, not only the best, players, but the best students to embrace this environment, this energy, our style of play. All the good, young, up-and-coming players will be hearing from us." Harriel, a senior, recently signed a letter of intent to play with Sac State's football program next season, but said the accession of his future alma mater's basketball program got his attention years ago. Harriel participated in a basketball camp overseen by Katz during the summer of 2013. Shortly thereafter, he inquired about Antelope head basketball coach Rob Richards' relationship with Katz. "I coached at Sac State for four years when the went to Div. I," Richards said. "I've know coach Katz for going on 18 years now. We're golfing buddies." Richards also has connections at UC Davis, where a knee injury kept him from becoming a part of the Aggies hoop program during his time as a student athlete. His ties to both universities, and standing as coach of one of Sacramento County's premier high school basketball programs leaves him with an obvious interest in seeing local basketball thrive. "I knew (Katz) was the right guy for the job there, I love what coach Les is doing at UC Davis," Richards said. I have this huge vested interested in watching what they're doing. Causeway Classic games are a killer for me. I just kind of stand right in the middle, but I think it's about time the Sacramento region got its do." Already flying the Hornet Flag, Harriel is not as conflicted as his coach, but hopes the Aggies do well enough to elevate the cross-town rivalry.   "I want to play with coach Katz, too," Harriel said just days after signing his letter. "I don't care too much for UC Davis. They can make (future NCAA tournaments), or they can not, all I care about is Sac State getting that (Causeway Classic Trophy). Oakmont High School head coach John Hunter, who coached Adenrele during his time as a Viking, echoed similar sentiments after watching Adenrele and the Aggies win their home game against Cal Poly, the second ESPN broadcast of the Aggie's season. Hunter believes as more local talent makes its way to nearby college programs, high school basketball players will aspire to take the same path, as some of his do after seeing Adnrele's success. Players concur. "I think (the basketball culture) is growing," Hawkins said. "With Sac State getting better, us, even (University of the) Pacific. I think that helps. Any time you have one region have that many good teams, it helps. I would hope kids would want to stay home, be close to their families and still play good basketball and play tough competition." Hawkins stated his disappointment in the to programs not playing against each other in his senior season, but wished the Hornets luck in the pursuit of future NCAA tournament berths, and tough times against his Alma Mater.   "Us, along with Sac State, can really change the landscape of college basketball in the Northern California area," Graham said. "We're rivals, but at the same time, you want Sacramento area to show out. I know guys on that team, I support them, but any time (we play each other) We're trying the get that 'W'. I'm looking forward to playing them next year." Recruiting premier high school talent will likely be a critical step in the accession of the local basketball scene. Naturally, many hoop fans will wonder if the programs can eventually become paths for players to take their playing careers a step further. As many as five NBA scouts attended one of UC Davis' home games in Jan, according to the Arizona Republic. Members of the Sacramento Kings organization were present at several Sac State games as well. For now, the focus remains on college hoops. And to many, such is ideal. "I'm obviously a big fan of college basketball and this has been a pro basketball area," Les said.  "Rightfully so, with the Kings dominating things, but it's nice that both college teams are getting some attention."

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"Tower Tuesday: Sac product Ryan Guzman is J Lo's Boy Next Door

View image | gettyimages.com

Urbs Indomita Rating: ✮☆☆☆☆

    Review by Jorden P. Hales, editor-in-chief

  Hollywood Juggernaut Jennifer Lopez’s first of three films set to release this year, The Boy Next Door, served as a coming out party for West Campus High School graduate and Sierra College Alum Ryan Guzman.

  Lopez and the 27-year-old Sacramento product were good for a 15 million-dollar opening weekend at the box office.

  Unfortunately, the box office is precisely where the success of this particular film will end, for any patron who made it beyond the point of purchased was almost certainly disappointed by what was seen on screen.

  This relatively low-budget ($4 million, according to Forbes) Universal/Comcast Corp. project, directed by Rob Cohen (xXx, The Fast and the Furious), is likely to disappoint even the lowest of expectations.

  The trailer represents its intent fairly: Low budget, simple plot, handsome male lead, household name and some sexual tension.

  What any viewer masochistic enough to sit through this must to prepare themselves for is the unnecessary, excessive drama and too-high-for-its-nature climax.

  This “cougar and cub” dynamic – popularized by The Graduate nearly five decades ago – can be nuanced and intelligent.

  The Boy Next Door teases such a possibility early on, as Guzman’s character – the handsome Noah Sandborn – is shown to be the son of an unfaithful father. Such is a rather interesting wrinkle, as Lopez’s character Claire Peterson and her son Kevin (Ian Nelson) are living alone while she and her husband are in the process of a divorce for the same reason.

  Shortly after the predictably charming Noah initiates the obligatory sex scene, he befriends himself with Kevin, using the emotional leverage to manipulate Claire.

  From that point on, more than an hour of absurdity, rich with unsurprising plot twists, violence and other empty visual stimulation ensues.

  Teen couples out for date night may get what they need out of this one, as there are more than enough “Don’t go in there!” moments, shirtless abs and boobs to appease what Hollywood believes to be their taste.

  While the film in its entirety under whelms, both Guzman and Lopez turn in satisfactory performances.

  Urbs Indomita readers and of supporters of local talent can hope the buzz and awareness generated by this The boy Next Door leads to more exposure in major projects for Guzman, a very possible outcome, as early reviews suggest that audiences are responding well to his performance.

[urbsindomita]

Tampon strings and teenage siblings

After two and a half years, 107.9 The End’s beloved night jock says goodbye to Sac Town, and a legion of little sisters.

Photos and story by Jorden P. Hales

It’s exactly one week after Independence Day, one of 93 treasured summer nights, a Friday at that. For most teenage girls, such would be a time of youthful bliss, the midst of a peak before literal and proverbial fall. From Granite Bay to the Yolo County line, required texts and friends lost to college seem far too distant to consider.

But beneath the setting Central Valley sun, goodbye is coming sooner than usual. Ashley Nickels –– the racy, 25-year-old bachelorette –– is doing her final show on 107.9 The End.

“You’re obviously new here,” Nickels says in response to a twitter follower who’s decided to voice displeasure with her jokes.

She’s just sent a tongue-in-cheek tweet alerting her male followers to their last opportunity to “baby mama” her before she leaves town.

Remarks of this nature are typical from night jocks, stewards of the after-dark hours.

But being a women is somewhat beyond the norm for late-night show hosts.

“The stereotype is have a guy at night because girls will want to listen to (him), and that’s cool, but the role I get to take is best friend and big sister,” says Nickels. “I think that’s even more fun, because here’s the thing: I’m gonna’ talk about my period, they’re not. If these girls have questions about sex, hair, makeup, whatever, they can come to me. I make that very well-known and I’m honest.”

That authentic “girl talk” may soon have the same influence on the listeners of 107.3 All The Hits, a mainstream top 40 station in Washington D.C.

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As one might expect, calls, tweets and messages are coming in throughout the show. Since 2011, Nickels has made a lasting impression on thousands of young girls in the area.

Nickels says she’s been surprised at the youth of her Sacramento following, but relates to their position and relishes in the opportunity be a much-needed confidant.

“I’m going through everything they’re going through. I’m not in high school anymore, but I’m still dealing with drama and boys and girl problems,” she says. “When I was growing up and listening to radio we had the morning girl, but we didn’t have a female night jock, so I totally get it and I wish I had something like that, because I realize it’s nice to have somebody that’s a friend, but not your typical friend, not related to mom or dad that you can go and talk to.”

The friendship has moved Nickels as well. Before signing off, she plays Kristinia DeBarge’s “Goodbye,” then wipes away tears as she assures Lexi, her final on-air caller that she will not be forgotten.

The sentimental connection with all of her adopted siblings would likely come as a surprise in hindsight. Nickels moved to Sacramento with no intention of putting down roots.

“I knew I wasn’t gonna’ stay in Sacramento for a long time, so I didn’t really live my life like I was going to live here for a long time ... I don’t even have a dining room table in my house," she says. “My ex-boyfriend would laugh at me and tell me to go buy things for my apartment and I’m like ‘I’m not gonna’ live here forever, I don’t care.'”

Many of Nickels’ listeners are fangirls of Kalin and Myles, a Bay Area R&B duo that has recently seen a groundswell in popularity after performing at a concert hosted by The End. Their rabid fanbase seems to have its own sect of followers who share a mutual tie with Nickels.

“I used to talk to her a lot about Kalin and Miles, but lately we’ve just been talking about life,” says Kira Beltran, a 14-year-old student at Cosumnes Oaks High School. “She’s fun to listen to and she interacts with people a lot on twitter. She really connected with all her listeners, Ashley was amazing.”

After signing off, Nickels spends her last few hours in the studio operating the station’s board (mixing console) for “Club 107.9.” Listeners like Lexi and Beltran are joined by hundreds of others –– sending tweets, leaving comments and posting shared memories on Instagram. A group of Kalin and Miles fans went so far as to  create a special video to commemorate their experiences with Nickels.

“We work in this industry and sometimes I think ‘why?’ because at any moment we could be fired, for any number of reasons,” Nickels reflects. “(But) I just love it … it’s kind of like therapy for me. The listeners make it more fun, because if they’re not talking to you, then what are you really doing this for?”

Corrections:

In the most recent print edition or Urbs Indomita, Ashley's last name is spelled "Nickles" on our cover. This is incorrect.

Her new station was referenced as "The Hits, a rhythmic top 40 station," rather than its correct moniker, "All The Hits, a mainstream top 40 station."

She was reported to be 26 years old, she is 25.

"Myles" was misspelled.

[urbsindomita]

Urbs Indomita Magazine, Summer 2014 issue

Happy "916," Sacramento. We hope you're ready enjoy your final days of summer with some reading.

We've put together a great issue, which can be read HERE, with an in-depth profile of Anjali Ranadive, daughter of Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive on the cover.

Inside, we've expanded our "Capitol Consumer Review" feature, with a review of some local breweries, profiled singer/songwriter Terra Lopez of Sister Crayon, retraced the footsteps of a young Sacramentan in "Notes From Our Native Children and chronicled former 107.9 night show host Ashley Nickels' last moments in Sacramento.

Also, we got on board with the farm-to-fork movement, providing you with a cool recipe in the first edition of a new feature and exploring a unique coffee brewer.

We've got some information about what's on the horizon for Natomas, some new content from the 25 Eight Music Group and the Cimorelli Sisters.

In sports, we take a look at how the American River College Volleyball team''s "elder" statesman is a "young blood" and Jorden comes to Demarcus Cousin's defense in "Beyond the Arc."

We also get you all caught up on "Last Man Standing" in "Land Park Drive."

It's been a busy Summer in the 916, and it has made for a great publication. Enjoy!

[urbsindomita]

Last Man Standing season three review: Land Park native Amanda Fuller keeps eclectic plot in one piece

Review by Jorden P. Hales

Urbs Indomita Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆

Available on Nexflix and Amazon Instant Video

Season three of ABC’s “Last Man Standing” was quite an eclectic compilation of viewer interests.

I don't know that there is another show on television that maintains so many points of interest in its plot as well as LMS. The show's writers are among the best in the business.

Of course, the Urbs Indomita reader’s primary interest would be the role of Kristin Baxter, played by Land Park native Amanda Fuller.

Fuller’s character was certainly less visible in season three than in previous seasons, having moved out of the Baxter household with her son Boyd (Flynn Morrison), a fan favorite.

But it was hard to get through an episode without seeing the character’s influence throughout her sister Mandy’s (Molly Ephraim) thriving relationship with Kristin’s season one ex-boyfriend Kyle (Christoph Sanders), Vanessa (Nancy Travis) and Mike (Tim Allen) Baxter navigating life as grandparents and littlest sister Eve (Kaitlyn Dever) dealing with the pressure of being the “good daughter” following Kristin’s teenage pregnancy,

Mike, the "last man" for whom the show is named, is by definition the main character, but each of his daughters contributes a small stem that creates a segmented, but riveting, arc of stories.

This arc pulls the viewer in at several points, but would be stymied were Kristin not present throughout; she truly holds the arc together.

So it should come as no surprise that this season's finale drew to a close in the same manner as the previous ones–with a family-altering, Kristin-centric development.

The table-waiting, self-deprecating, full-of-regret-and-uncertainty woman who had barely ascended from the confines of her childhood bedroom when the season opened in September, has become a confident mother and, accepting a wedding proposal from her long-time boyfriend and Boyd’s father, Ryan (Jordan Masterson), will soon become a wife.

ABC announced that LMS will return for a fourth season, and whether dramatic and challenging, or blissful and romantic, the engagement (and subsequent marriage) is sure to be pivotal in next season's storylines.

Television viewers who have never seen the show should do some binge watching this summer; everyone is certain to find a favorite character in this "six degrees of Kristin Baxter" storyline.

Seasons one and two are currently available on Netflix, with season three expected to become available in the coming months. All three seasons and individual episodes can be purchased via Amazon Instant Video.

Use the hashtag "#UrbsLMS" and weigh in with your thoughts as you watch. Feel free to reference “#LandParkDrive” and mention miss "@amandafuller27" in your tweets as well.

Urbs Indomita will provide more information on season four as it becomes available. Follow us on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Instagram to receive content as it breaks.

[urbsindomita]

Sacramento’s sisterhood of songstresses

Story by Aurora Sain

Photo by Jeff Fasano

Six Sacramento sisters have sung their way to Internet stardom. With prestigious awards, household endorsements and strong civic pride, the Cimorellis have plans to stick together for a long time to come.

From Sacramento to Malibu, one group of sisters has sung its way to Internet fame.

The band Cimorelli is made up of six sisters: Christina, 23, Katherine, 21, Lisa, 20, Amy, 18, Lauren, 15 and Dani, 13.

In 2007, with encouragement from Christina, they all realized that a musical talent ran in their family and thought to pursue it as a career.

“Our mom (Lynne) is also a classical pianist. Our parents actually met at Sac State,” said Lisa.

The 11 Cimorelli siblings are poster children for the phrase “teamwork.” They slowly recruited one another into the group, with Dani waiting until she was old enough to be included.

The group produces YouTube videos covering popular songs and has also released several original songs to millions of supportive fans.

“It was actually my idea,” said Katherine. “We had a YouTube channel, but not many views. We decided to start doing covers. We did “Party in the USA” as our first cover, Lisa sent it to OceanUp.com in August of 2009 and we had 20,000 hits over night.”

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After their overnight success surrounding “Party in the USA,” the Cimorelli sisters continued doing covers and were nominated for a Teen Choice Award in 2012 for best web star.

Their YouTube songs have reached an upward of 10 million views. Some of their most responsive covers include “Call me maybe,” “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Cups (When I’m Gone)” and others with mini rap star Matty B.

Growing up in the Sacramento area gave the girls a sense of pride in the city. They gave a tribute to Sacramento in their song “Made in America.” After establishing a relationship with radio station 107.9 The End, the girls were invited to perform at The End’s annual Jingle Ball in 2013. Cimorelli grew a huge Sacramento fan base in 2007, right after the band formed. Their fans helped get the radio stations to play their songs. “It started on Twitter,” said Lisa. “We came out with our first original song, ‘Million Bucks,’ in 2007. Fans kept tweeting (The End) and asking them to play it on air. (The End) was the first FM station to play us. And playing Jingle Ball was one of our dreams. We love (The End). They have been great to us.”

The girls also gained attention when people noticed they altered the lyrics of many songs to sound more appropriate for all audiences. “The youngest was around 10 when she joined the group,” said Katherine. “It would have been awkward if we didn’t change the lyrics around.” The group is committed to staying true to who they were when they started. “No one is forcing us to have these morals,” said Lisa. “This is us. Our fans would know if we weren’t being true to who we are.” This year, the girls are going to be traveling and working on their album, and they have a few secret projects up their sleeve. With a unique sound and a huge fan base, the Cimorelli girls are headed for the top, but not without remembering where they came from. “Keep that Nor Cal pride,” Lisa says to Cimorelli’s local fans. “We can’t wait to come visit!”

[urbsindomita]

Sexy Feminism review: Who knew genital grooming could be sexy?

Review by Brooke Purves

Book makes allows no excuses for being sexy - unless you do it because the media tells you to. 

Social activism should be construed as sexy in its own right, but instead of lifting our young women up to the standards set by the pioneers of feminism they emulate in their book Sexy Feminism, co-authors Jennifer Keishin Armstrong and American River College adjunct professor Heather Wood Rudulph dumb down feminism, chew it up and spit it into the gullets of the baby birds they must think the young “feminist curious” women are today.

The feminist reader wants to know: Where is the discussion about being a feminist by protecting yourself from cancers of the breasts and reproductive organs? What about issues of job sharing with other women who want to spend more time at home with their children? What about homeless women and their children?

The answer: Not sexy.

The feminist issues addressed in this book are simple and they are safe.

For example, the claim that stopping the media-inspired notion of a standard of beauty, according to Rudulph and Armstrong, “is the collective feminist mission” simplifies the very complex collection of movements that is “Feminism.”

In the author's defense, the book is geared toward young women - women who didn’t grow up (or have mothers that grew up) during the second wave of feminism - and according to Rudulph, the goal wasn’t to be academic.

The goal was to “help interpret (negative) media messages and give women the tools to speak out about slut-shaming, demand equality in a dating/suitor relationship, and advocate for themselves in the bedroom.”

The hope, Rudulph said, is that young women will become more interested in feminism as a whole, choose to read the additional resources mentioned in the appendix and find a way to express themselves about their own feminist causes.

Young women must, of their own volition, find an avenue through which they will be educated not just about keeping abortion safe and legal, but about the history of back alley abortions and not just about the feminist implications of breast augmentation, but will read “The Cancer Journals,” in which Audre Lorde talks about the stigma attached to cancer patients who have had a breast removed.

Concepts taken out of context can be misused and incorrectly propagated by well-meaning activists. 

Indeed, it is the responsibility of the feminist author to make sure the reader understands why something is a feminist goal or why a particular idea is relevant to feminism.

It’s not clear that will happen through this book, but the reader will be entertained - the writing is snappy and sassy - and she may even find feminist empowerment in her everyday choices.

She will find sexy feminist action plans to share with her partner and author anecdotes about experiences with genital waxing, dieting and what it means to take a partner’s last name, all helpful for the newly hatched liberal feminist.

Sexy Feminism can make for a witty introduction to feminism, but it shouldn’t stop there.   

[urbsindomita]

Beyond The Arc: Let’s make the Kings a little more “ours” going forward

Column by Jorden Hales

I’m going to stick with the civic pride and “uniquely Sacramento” theme here. Like many of you reading this, I am a die-hard Kings fan.

These last several years have been rough.

Much like the city they represent, I saw something in my favorite team that the rest of the world did not seem to.

“We can be a world-class sports town” and “all we need is better ownership” are easily dismissed when your team can hardly string together three wins and only gets national coverage on relocation rumors, Real Housewives and Maloof/TMZ fodder.

Vivek Ranadive and his team of visionaries have clearly changed that.

In all likelihood, it will still be at least one more season before the Kings are back in the playoff picture, but I think the sentiment around the Kings’ fanbase is that Ranadive’s commitment to improvement, our new general manager Pete D’Alessandro and head coach Michael Malone will yield positive results in due time.

My challenge to our brilliant new owner, recently nominated for Sports Executive of the Year by SportsBusiness Journal, is to apply that same passion and vision to making our team “uniquely” Sacramento.

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I don’t know about the rest of you, but I miss seeing those Tower Records advertisements in the arena, and knowing that a Sacramento powerhouse had a business relationship with the Kings. I’d like to be able to buy some Rubicon and Ruhstaller beers, featured prominently at the concession stands.

Every time I see Jack Nicholson and Snoop Dogg courtside at a Lakers game, I wonder why native 916er Molly Ringwald isn’t a VIP guest for an annual ‘80s night at Sleep Train Arena. I, for one, think she would look ravishing in a powder blue Reggie Theus jersey.

Or perhaps our cover girls, Cimorelli, could sing the national anthem opening night.

For goodness’ sake, there’s even a song called “Arco Arena,” on Sacramento-based Cake’s album “Comfort Eagle,” which has been certified gold, but I’ve never heard it at a Kings home game.

I’d even go so far as to change the team name and colors to something that better represents our region. But even if you’re not on board with such an extreme, I think we should all demand to see more of Sacramento’s character reflected in the experience of its most prominent athletic team.

[urbsindomita]

Urbs Indomita Magazine, Spring 2014 issue

We are thrilled to present the debut issue of Urbs Indomita Magazine, which you can read by scrolling down or clicking HERE.

In our debut, the Cimorelli sisters talk about their early career success and pride in their Sacramento heritage.

SAMMIES Hall of Famer Autumn Sky, recently released her EP, “Scout,” which has a special meaning. Sky and her band have a unique chemistry, brought on by her bubbly personality.

We also launch our new print-only feature, “Land Park Drive,” your guide to our city’s performing arts scene. This edition features Amanda Fuller, Crosses, Tom Hanks and Joan Didion.

Our Contributing editor Brooke Purves reviews "Sexy Feminism," a book by American River College adjunct Heather Wood Rudúlph and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong.

Our publisher and editor-in-chief Jorden Hales has a special challenge for Vivek Ranadive and company in his column, "Beyond the Arc."

The issue also includes, a clash between two downtown-area donut shops in “Capitol Consumer Review,” a profile of the Oak Park Outreach Organization, “Notes From Our Native Children” and an especially earnest letter from the staff.

Read, share, enjoy and follow us on twitter, tumblr, facebook and instagram for additional content.

[urbsindomita]

Tower Tuesday: Autumn Sky "scouts" her way to local music history

Story by Barbara Harvey

Photos by Angelo Edwards

Autumn Sky may genuinely be the nicest person you’ll ever meet.

Browsing through her cheerful Facebook posts, it’s easy for a pessimist to imagine that the bubbly nature of the local singer-songwriter is an artificial persona, constructed for the purpose of amassing a loyal fanbase.

Within minutes of meeting her, however, her sincerity becomes apparent.

Greeting handshakes with hugs, and exuding warmth that shakes a cynic to their core is far from uncommon with Sky, even upon first meeting.

“My first impression was that she was just a little bit of a ditz,” recalled keyboardist Jeremiah Jacobs. “But you only need to be around her for a very short period of time to find out that she’s got extraordinary depth as a human being.”

This inherent friendliness has clearly contributed to her ever-increasing success, as her fans are arguably among the most loyal of any current musician in the Sacramento music scene—In 2011, Sky amassed the most votes of any artist during voting for the SAMMIES (Sacramento Area Music Awards).

Sky gratefully acknowledges the support she’s received from her fans. Her approach of making fans into friends has ensured a devoted group that supports her in ways not usually seen in the Sacramento music scene.

“When you don’t have a label working for you, when you don’t have those extra hands…all you have is your friends and their friends,” said Sky “It wasn’t ever something I planned, it just kind of happened that way. I wish I’d planned it, because it seems really smart (laughs).”

The Paradise, Calif. native has been building her career since she was 15 years old, starting with open-mic nights at coffee shops, where she met many of her friends, fans and even band members, including guitarist Kyle Kaylor.

“When I first met her, I was like ‘oh, it’s another indie chick with a guitar,’ and then she started playing, and you can really hear and feel her passion. It broke any predisposition I had about what kind of artist she was,” said Kaylor.

Sky’s tireless dedication to her craft has molded her into an experienced and proficient songwriter.

“She’s worked so hard to write songs her entire life, since she was a little girl. I’ve read a lot of her stuff that she wrote in crayon,” said guitarist Barry Crider.

Sky’s hard work is beginning to pay off, as she was recently inducted into the SAMMIES Hall of Fame, essentially cementing her status as one of Sacramento’s best acts.

When reminded of her new credential, the petite redhead abruptly stopped picking at her scone, and for just a brief moment, looked entirely shocked by her own success.

“Hall of fame is just crazy. It’s just insane,” she said. “We got really lucky and we have a lot of fans who have been a part of my life for years and years and years.”

On March 29, following years of work, Sky and her band debuted their new EP, “Scout.”

“We got into the studio, and it took us two takes to get everything done, because we’ve been practicing these songs for so long,” she explained. “I think we’ve only had one show where we played a couple of (the new songs) full-band.”

The EP’s title is a reference to Harper Lee’s literary classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

“Scout’s probably one of my favorite characters in literature. She reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger. I was a humongous tomboy,” explained Sky. “My whole childhood I had just wanted to be adventurous and brave.”

Sky now uses this character for motivation, explaining, “Sometimes, even though you’ve worked really hard to get there, sometimes you feel like you don’t really deserve it, or have earned it. Or you go up there and you’re like, ‘Is it really that great? Am I just wasting my time?’ and you need to just remember that little person inside of you, who was doing it for the joy of it, who loved adventures.”

“It’s been really cool to see how she’s changed and developed [as an artist] though the past couple years,” said bassist Anthony Medina. “To me, now it’s really looking like somethings going to come out of it.”

“I like seeing the start of a thing, when the rocket first ignites, and that’s kind of how I feel with Autumn,” said Jacobs. “This young woman will go far beyond Sacramento.”

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Film Review: "Frances Ha," starring Sacramento native and Saint Francis High School alum Greta Gerwig

Review by Jorden Hales

Urbs Indomita Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆

Rated R for sexual references and language

Available on Nexflix and DVD

Just as names and faces give value to news, characters are what truly bring life to fiction. While human empathy can make reality difficult to deal with, fictional characters provide a method for escapism, with just enough connection for their stories to resonate.

St. Francis High School alum Greta Gerwig’s performance in “Frances Ha,” is a perfect marriage of the two experiences. The film’s several heart-warming moments, upbeat soundtrack and reasonably happy conclusion do not distract the viewer from what it truly is – a frighteningly poignant depiction of young, misguided talent. 

Frances, a struggling dancer living in New York City, could frankly be described as a twenty something mess, but her neurotic behavior, poor judgment and floundering are far from uncommon, especially for those perusing careers in less stable industries such as the performing arts. 

Frances seems aloof. After breaking up with her boyfriend, she watches the lives of all of her peers move along, seemingly without her. The love of her roommate and best friend, Sophie, is the only thing she really knows.

Her rock proves unsteady, however, when Sophie tells Frances of her plans to move to Tribeca, where she has long desired to live. Frances is left without a plan, companion or identity.

Every scene seems a perfect illustration of a young soul’s deepest insecurities. Childhood homes, campuses from which one should have long since moved on and pretentious social gatherings abound and will no doubt remind some viewers of their personal experiences.

Such settings force an individuals to face their place in life, or reveal what society perceives that place to be.

One of the film’s more powerful moments takes place at a dinner party, after a soul-searching trip to her hometown of Sacramento, when Frances is asked by a guest what she “does.”

“It’s complicated...because I don’t really do it,” Frances tells the stranger. “I’m a dancer.”

Realizing her entire world has moved on without her, Frances seeks, amidst much fear, to pull some things together.

While less than glamorous and far from the romanticized depictions one might expect to see in a major Hollywood production, Frances’ modest success following her epiphany represents a realistic “promised land” for the many young or misguided people who will certainly empathize with the character’s struggles.

Hard-hitting reality, identifiable moments of compassion and a soothing conclusion make “Frances Ha” a great find for those seeking a realistic, thought-provoking story with a relatable plot and lovable character.

Fun Fact: Parts of "Francis Ha" were filmed in Sacramento. Several local landmarks — including the Tower Bridge — are prominently featured during the film.

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Midtown's haunted mansion

Story by Jorden Hales

Midtown’s “Martinez House,” located at the corner of 22nd and H Streets

Photo credit: Jorden Hales

Settled by cannibals and fortified by the Gold Rush, Sacramento should be expected to have its fair share of ghost stories. While nearly every crevice of the area seems to boast an eerie tale, the corner of 22nd and H Streets is believed by some to house some paranormal substance that has teased from behind its fence for decades.

Built in the late early 1900s, the “Martinez House,” as it has come to be known, was once owned by Aden C. Hart, a doctor and founder of Sutter Hospital.

According to Shawn Peter, historian with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, the family for which the house is named purchased it and moved in during the late 1960s. Their stay did not last long, however. Some unusual experiences prompted them to abandon the property.

“Because of continual, constant disturbances between 1 and 3 a.m., one night, without even packing, in their pajamas (they) just walked out and left everything there,” says Peter. “The disturbances that the family was hearing were a fight breaking out in the kitchen, gunshots and kitchenware being knocked over. And Every time they would go to investigate, nothing was going on, but they would (still) hear those sounds.”

The home has remained unoccupied for decades. Several have reported strange experiences on and around the property.

“A photographer went recently in the last couple years went trying to pick up what they call 'orbs'," said Peter. “He didn’t catch anything in his photos, but when he and his got back into the car they both heard a voice saying ‘Haha, you didn’t get anything today.’”

Jay Roach, a 30-year-old Sacramento Unified School District, employee lives across the street from the home

and recalls a particular incident in which he believes he saw a ghostly figure of a young boy doing homework near inside the home.

Haunted or not, the Martinez House is defiantly point of interest in the neighborhood and attracts many “tourists,” especially during the month of October.

"I’d say 50 to 100 people every day will come to scope it out," said Roach, "High school kids to adults, the last week has been really busy."

Martha Bertolino, another H Street resident, sees constant activity around the home as well. Bertolino, like other residents, would like to see the attention parlayed into something more, like a museum or Halloween attraction opened to the public.

“There are always people taking pictures,” says Bertolino. “It’s very popular (year round) and it’s been (abandoned) for 25 years, so it would be nice to see something (done with it).”

Roach agrees the home could be a more of a pillar for the neighborhood, if it were opened to the public, as he has interest in seeing the inside of it himself.

“Seeing all the attention it gets, all the history the house has, I think it would be interesting (to go inside), said Roach “The house has been there for (over) 100 years, there’s still stuff inside and no one has lived in it for decades.”

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Tower Tuesday: Blue Dream Film Review

Urbs Indomita Rating: ✮✮☆☆☆

James Duval stars as Robert Harmon, a journalist who works for a newspaper fighting to stay relevant in the age of the “.com” boom. After a wealthy family buys out his publication, Robert struggles to balance the increased workload and the fast lifestyle of drugs, sex, and more sex.

Eventually his bad habits catch up to him. With the help of his sexy love interest Tara (Kayden Kross), he cleans up his life and comes to the conclusion that no matter how much change his profession goes through, there will always be a place for journalism in society.

Blue Dream is a strange film, but by it being a drama, it definitely delivered in the sense that it had plenty of it.

At first it was hard to keep up with the plot, so I just gave up and tried my best to piece the movie together from all the aimless scenes. Eventually I did start to understand it some more and was pleasantly surprised by the closing dialogue.

Even though the movie did not have a small budget-feel to it, the acting left me wondering if it was an adult film or an actual attempt at a serious movie, being that it was brimming with sex scenes.

James Duval played the protagonist in the story. His dialogue with the other characters left a lot to be desired and his character was not entirely convincing. I do blame the writers though, not the actors. Duval did however; have some moments of decent acting.

Kayden Kross made her feature film debut in this movie and surprised me with how well she portrayed a very poorly written role. Her acting was convincing and seemed effortless.

The rest of the supporting cast and their performances were mediocre at best, and one could tell some were out of their element as far as theatrical acting goes.

The soundtrack also left me confused. There were some moments where it just did not match up with the mood of the scene. This made the movie even harder to follow because the actor’s dialogue was always vague and already hard to understand.

I will give this movie a two out of five stars because it had a decent plot and a good moral story, if one is able to follow it. But the 'if' is a big one because the movie is fairly difficult to follow.

I think Gregory Hatanaka just tried too hard to make this movie edgy and unpredictable. In the end, it came out corny and rather stale. Definitely not a movie I would recommend if you’re looking for a brain-twisting drama.

Review by Orest Yaslisnkiy

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Last Man Standing: Season Three, Episode One Review

Last Man Standing, a sitcom on ABC starring Tim Allen, Nancy Travis, and Amanda Fuller kicked off its third season Friday September 20.

The show follows Tim Allen’s character Mike Baxter, whose life and world are filled with women, especially at home, with his wife and 3 daughters.

One of the daughters, Kristen Baxter, is played by Land Park’s own Amanda Fuller, a film and TV actress. Fuller has appeared on many television shows and even had a prominent recurring role on another ABC show, Grey’s Anatomy.

I had no idea what to expect from this show. It’s been successful enough to have been picked up for a third season, but so have other sitcoms that have been pretty terrible.

I was really excited because I had not seen Tim Allen in anything in a really long time, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the show is actually really funny. Tim Allen brings his old form from the Home Improvement days back and is enough to make me laugh out loud proving to the viewers that he still has it. 

The season premier revolved around Kristen Baxter’s son Boyd, attending an over crowded bi-lingual school. Tim Allen’s character, Boyd’s grandfather, has his reservations about him attending the school and offers up his address so that Boyd could go to a “better” school. 

Kristen’s character, whose beliefs tend to be more liberal than those of her fathers and is often portrayed as an antagonist to Mikes Character, disagrees with him as usual argues that she prefers her son attend more of multicultural school. She then goes on to accuse him of filling Boyd’s mind with toxic influence and doesn’t want Boyd having the same beliefs and thoughts as Mike.

Ryan Vogelson, Kristen’s boyfriend and father of their son, confronts Kirsten for always disagreeing with her father, even when she knows he is right. She knows it’s a better school, but again her beliefs won’t allow her to agree with him.

If one of these typical family sitcoms can make it why can’t Last Man Standing make it anchored by Allen.

Last Man Standing airs 8 p.m. Fridays on ABC. Watch this episode HERE

Review by Carlos Gurrero

Carlos Gurrero is a new contributor at Urbs Indomita. He will be reviewing Last Man Standing throughout its third season. You can find him on twitter by clicking his byline and follow his reviews of the show by clicking the "last man standing" tag below.

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Tower Tuesday: Blue Dream DVD Release

Adult film star and former CSU Sacramento student Kayden Kross made her feature film debut earlier this year in Cinema Epoch's Blue Dream. The film has had strong showings in theaters and at festivals nation-wide and was released on DVD today.

In honor of Kross' birthday, which is less than a week away, Urbs Indomita will have further coverage of the release including commentary from filmmakers and review of the DVD throughout the month of September.

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Tower Tuesday: Fruitvale Station Review

Fruitvale Station poster from Sundance film Festival

Urbs Indomita Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆

After winning the Grand Jury Prize and Audence Award for U.S. Dramatic film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Fruitvale Station  has finally made it’s way to theaters throughout the country. The film was written and directed by Ryan Coogler, a former CSU Sacramento finance major. Cooglar graduated from Sac State in 2007, then went on to study at the University of Southern California. Fruitvale Station is his first feature film.  

The film is based on a true story, chronicling the final day of Oscar Grant’s life. Grant was a 22-year-old african american man who was shot and killed by BART police officer Johannes Mehsrie at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, Calif. 

The film opens with actual footage of the shooting, taken from a cell phone of a bystander. Cooglar does a phenomenal job of implementing documentary-style qualities that capture the weight and impact of the event, while maintaining an earnest, dramatic plot that keeps the viewer engaged. The plot begins in the early hours of December 31, 2008, when Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) sends his mother Wanda Grant (Octavia Spencer) a text message wishing her a happy birthday.  Oscar Grant then falls asleep beside his girlfriend, Sophina (Melonie Diaz) and daughter, Tatiana (Ariana Neal), then prepares to begin what would be the final day of his life. 

Both Micheal B. Jordan’s acting and Ryan Cooglar’s directing truly bring Oscar Grant to life upon the screen. The two do not attempt to create an over-romanticized depiction of the young father, who’s flaws and shortcomings were on full display throughout the film. Oscar Grant’s 2009 New Year’s resolution was to stop dealing drugs, most notably marijuana. While attempting to meet with his boss to try and retain employment at a food market where he had been fired for tardiness, Oscar befriends a young woman (Caroline Lesley) who is hastily trying to piece together a New Year’s Eve dinner. He puts her on the phone with his grandmother, who gives her a crash course in southern-style cooking.  

Oscar leaves the market without managing to keep his job.  He then spends the majority of his day calling friends and family to make sure they have wished his mother a happy birthday. After a phone call with his sister, during which she asks him for help with her rent, Oscar sets up a drug deal he hopes will ease his financial woes. While waiting for his buyer near a waterfront, he has a flashback to time his time in prison. He remembers speaking with his mother during a visit. After she witnesses a verbal confrontation between Oscar and another inmate, the two have a brief disagreement and she vows never to visit Oscar during incarceration again. 

Oscar reflects on this experience, thinks of Sophina and Tatiana, then dumps his supply of drugs into the water. After picking up his two ladies and attending a family dinner in honor of his mother's birthday, Oscar and Sophina make plans to visit San Francisco for New Year's Eve festivities. They take public transportation at his mother's behest. She was concerned about the probability of drunk drivers. They meet up with friends and enjoy the evening. 

On the trip back home, Oscar runs into some familiar faces. The first, the young woman he had assisted at the market, who wanted to express her gratitude. Her exclamation upon seeing him drew the attention of a second familiar face, the inmate he had had it out with in prison. The man engaged Oscar on the train, passengers reported the incident, and law enforcement intervened.  

I can personally attest to the riveting experience of seeing the train make the stop I knew was coming before I even walked into the theater. At the Fruitvale BART station, Oscar and his friends, some of whom were only presumed to be involved in the altercation, are escorted off the train and forcefully placed against a wall. Mehsrie and other BART officers are seen antagonizing the group. Profane words are exchanged between both groups, and the situation begins to escalate. After continuos shouting and no arrests, Oscar holds up his hands as a sign of good faith, the officers then see fit to cuff him. He is then placed face-down on the concrete and restrained. 

My pulse rose as the perspective shifted to that of the woman Oscar had met at the market, just hours earlier. She is shown recording the events on her cell phone as many bystanders actually did early New Year's Day 2009. Amidst the chaos, Mehsrie reaches for his gun and fires it into the back of the restrained, unarmed Oscar Grant.

After depicting the events that took place at Highland Hospital, where Oscar was pronounced dead, the film returns to the documentary-style introduced in its opening. Peaceful protests are shown, including one at which Tatiana Grant was present and the film draws to a close.

Watching this film is a highly emotional experience. Coogler does a great job of brining a timeless social issue to the forefront of viewer's minds without directing anger, guilt, or evoking discomfort. According to Micheal B. Jordan, the script is accurate almost to the minute. Nearly every detail is in line with actual testimony of Oscar's final day. I encourage everyone, especially those with Sac State or Bay Area ties to see this movie. It is earnest, poignant, and remarkably well done.

Fun Facts: Director Ryan Coogler played wide receiver for the Hornets Football team during his time at Sac State. His 112 career receptions rank fourth in the School's history. He won the Big Sky Conference's all-academic award three times. 

Coogler hosted a special premier for Fruitvale Station at the Century 16 theater in Sacramento. He stated during interviews that he frequented this theater while he lived in the City. 

Review by Jorden Hales

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Sacramento Kings Roster Discussion

Pictured: Kings' owner Vivek Ranadive and draftee Ben Mclemore at McLemore's introductory press conference.

With the Kings' draftees being introduced in Sacramento this week and free agency upon us, Joshua Bombach and Jorden Hales have hoops on their mind.  The two went back-and-forth on Ben McLemore's ideal role, the team's new front office, who they want to be signed and more. Here's their conversation.

  What you think of the pick(s)?

Josh: I absolutely love their first round pick. I couldn't believe Ben McLemore was still available at number seven, and neither could the Kings, as they rushed out with over a minute left on the clock to scoop him up. The rumor was that they were trying to move up in the draft to get him, so it worked out better than they could have hoped. The Kings have drafted a deadly combination of a scorer in McLemore. He's an explosive and athletic player who can also shoot the ball, and right now the Kings have that split into two players (Evans and Thornton). He needs to work on his ball-handling and defense, but under Mike Malone he won't have a choice but to improve on those areas. McLemore's talent is all-star level on the offensive end. As for their second round pick, Ray McCallum, it will have to be a wait-and-see kind of approach. He's a true point guard: a good playmaker, but needs to work on his shot. But other guards have come into the league with that same issue (Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo) and now have a consistent mid-range jumper.

Jorden: I like Ben McLemore.  I personally would have taken Trey Burke or C.J. Mccollum.  If McLemore is replacing Tyreke in the backcourt, I foresee that being a problem.  His size and inability to create his own shot will hinder him greatly in the early stages of his career.  He had to be asked all season long to play like a leader and be more assertive at Kansas (on this roster that might be a good thing) so I think a limited role is his best bet for success.  Conversely, if he’s replacing Marcus Thornton, I think it will go wonderfully. In a third guard role, I think he’d be phenomenal, and Tyreke could spend some time in the frontcourt, with him to space the floor and a point guard out there with them.  That sounds like a pretty potent offense to me.  He’s also more athletic than Thornton, which is a big deal on a roster that has no above-the-rim players. 

As for McCallum, I’m not really familiar with him.  I like the athleticism, and the fact that Pete D'Alessandro has been following him for so long.  He might have stolen a diamond in the rough.  

Should Demarcus be extended? And  Tyreke re-signed?

Josh: Ah, Evans and Cousins.  Both were thought to be the future of the franchise not that long ago. Cousins may still be, but I think it's time to cut Evans loose.  He has had nagging injuries and has been on the decline since his rookie season.  He will probably be able to land a $10 million a year contract from another team, and I don't see the Kings matching that, thankfully.  If they were somehow able to resign him for about $5-7 million a year, that would be acceptable, but I don't see that happening.  As for Cousins, he had the chance to earn an extension this past season, but he ended up having even more issues than the season before.  His attitude became worse, and he still gets so frustrated during games that it completely takes him out of it.  I wish I could say differently, but the only thing stopping Cousins from getting an extension is himself.

Jorden: I’m a little bit higher on Tyreke than most.  He’s not the franchise guy we had hoped a few years ago, but he is the Kings’ best two-way player, dramatically improved his shooting last season, and could be an impact player in a functional organization.  Young, talented guys who play on both sides of the ball are not easy to come by.  As for Cousins, I would not extend him until next summer.  He still has a chance to earn a max deal.  If not from the Kings, from some other team.  

What do you make of the Manta Ellis rumors, and what's your assessment of Manta?

Josh: I think Monta Ellis would be an awful fit.  He may play point, but he is an undersized shooting guard at heart with a poor field goal percentage (41.6%) and limited range (28.7% 3-pt).  He averages about two steals a game, but he has trouble moving laterally as a defender.  He makes poor decisions and is just another player that would lower the basketball IQ of the team.  The Kings to should be trying to remedy that situation, not add to it.

Jorden: Spot on, Ellis is losing player.  I actually think Marcus Thornton might be a better defender than him, which says a lot.  I’m really afraid of these rumors about him winding up in Sacramento.  I like watching him in youtube highlight reels, not in Sleep Train Arena.  As we discussed earlier, I liked Igoudala as a possible replacement for Evans if he leaves, just not on a max contract.

Thoughts on the GM hire?

Josh: I was originally pulling for Chris Wallace from Memphis, but this turned out to be a great choice for this franchise.  Pete D'Alessandro has previous operations experience from Golden State (a recurring theme in the Kings rebuilding process) and most recently, Denver.  He is an analytics master and is an expert on how to make the salary cap work for him.  Prospective Kings consultant Chris Mullin highly recommended him, and owner Vivek Ranadive said he is always “four moves ahead.”  I am excited to see what he does with this team.

Jorden: I like the idea of an analytics guy running the show.  They still have Mullin as a consultant for talent evaluation and old-school “I know a good player when I see one” type stuff.  This is the direction the league has gone.

With ownership, coach, and GM in place, what do you see going forward in terms of roster decisions, philosophy, and such?

Josh: The philosophy that I've seen from everyone brought in recently is that they want Sacramento to have a winning team again.  They acknowledge the great playoff teams of the late 90's, early 00's.  They saw the way the fans embraced the team.  The fans, and the team, want that feeling back, and I feel as if the personnel they've hired will do that. 

Jorden: I agree.  It’s not about cutting corners anymore.  Money is not the primary concern, but it will be spent wisely.  This is a group of highly intellegent, self-made people who all have great track records in basketball and other endeavors.

CP3 has a great relationship with coach Malone and loves Demarcus. Exactly how crazy would it be for them to take a swing, and would his supporting cast here be better, worse, or the same compared to his LA clips? 

Josh: I become excited every time I think of CP3 on the Kings roster.  It may be unrealistic, but these superstar players need to realize something.  When you are the star on this Kings team, the city is yours.  There are no other major professional sports teams.  This is it.  Just ask Chris Webber. Just ask Mitch Richmond.  If Paul stays in Los Angeles, it isn't his city.  It's Kobe Bryant's.  It's the Dodgers'.  I think if Malone can convey that to him, the Kings may have a chance.

Jorden: I think in time perception of Sacramento will change.  Players want to play in quality organizations, and I believe this will become one.  I think Paul will at least hear out coach Malone, but with Doc Rivers being hired by the Clippers, he’s almost certainly going to want to stay there.  Paul loves Malone (and Demarcus Cousins) though.  Crazier things have happened.

Written by Joshua Boumbach and Jorden Hales 

Baumbach