Marcos Giron Defeats Alex Michelsen at Hall of Fame Open to Claim First-Ever ATP Tour Title

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Marcos Giron has claimed his first-ever ATP Tour title…

The 30-year-old Argentine and Ecuadorian American professional tennis player defeated Next Gen ATP countryman Alex Michelsen 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-5 to claim the trophy in at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Rhode Island.

Giron saved match point with an ace at 4-5, 30/40 in the deciding set and clinched the victory with his 13th ace of the match.

“Better late than never. We’ll take it!” Giron said with a laugh. “There are so many people I can thank and couldn’t be more lucky to have them in my life. Family, coaches, friends. For this, it’s really special for me but also for all their help and support though the years.”

Giron, a former college tennis star at UCLA who underwent right hip surgery in December 2015 and left hip surgery in February 2016, reached his first two ATP Tour finals two years ago in San Diego and earlier this season in Dallas.

After a gritty two-hour, 37-minute victory against 19-year-old Michelsen, the veteran Giron can now call himself a tour-level champion.

A critical moment for Giron came when he served at 2-3 in the deciding set. Facing break point, the new No. 38 player in the ATP Live Rankings crushed a courageous forehand winner to escape trouble.

Michelsen was then a shot away from the championship with Giron serving at 4-5, but the older of the two Americans did not allow him to touch the ball with an ace down the T.

The second-seeded Giron saved eight of the nine break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He won 82 per cent of his first-serve points and hit 41 total winners.

“Honestly, Alex, unbelievable tournament, unbelievable match,” Giron told his countryman. “It’s unreal, 19 [years old]. We’ve been practising together. On court, he’s so mature, he’s so good. He’s got such a bright future. I’m happy to get the win now while I can!”

Michelsen did not lose serve en route to the final, his second consecutive championship match appearance in Newport. One year ago, aged 18, the American advanced to the final of the ATP 250 event when he had never previously won a tour-level match.

The teen was trying to become the youngest American ATP Tour champion (and first teenager) since Andy Roddick in Houston in 2002.

Lupita Infante Signs First Major Label Record Deal with Sony Music Latin

Posted on March 29, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Lupita Infante is officially a big deal…

Sony Music Latin has signed the Mexican American mariachi, norteño, and ranchera singer to her first record deal with a major label.

Before signing with Sony, Infante had been releasing music as an indie artist, including her 2019 Grammy-nominated debut album La Serenata.

“I am thrilled to sign with Sony Music, a team that is undoubtedly one of the best in the world. To be on a label with such a deep legacy and to be a part of a roster with such remarkable talent is a dream come true,” Infante told Billboard. “Being an independent artist was very important for me, it gave me the opportunity to grow in so many ways. Now I want to take my work to the next level! The people at Sony Music understand me and my artistry, and together we want to make history in the Mexican music scene!”

Sony Music Latin president Alex Gallardo added, “Mexican-music fans are eager to hear more women’s voices. Lupita Infante has the preparation, the voice, the songwriting skill and the credibility to lead a revolution in the industry, which is long overdue.”

A graduate of UCLA, where she completed a degree in ethnomusicology, the mariachi and norteña singer is the granddaughter of renowned and iconic ranchera singer Pedro Infante.

Her 2019 Grammy nod was followed by a nomination at the 2020 Latin Grammys where her song “Dejaré” was up for best regional Mexican song.

Most recently, Infante was part of Billboard‘s 2021 Latin Music Week where she was joined by Ana Bárbara, Adriana Rios and Ivonne Galaz in BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” panel.

There, she spoke about representing a new generation of female artists in the male-dominated genre that is regional Mexican, and she also spoke on inspiration and embracing the duality of her identity.

“I’m bicultural, Mexican-American, but I feel more Mexican and people criticize me saying, ‘You’re not Mexican.’ But when you grow up knowing that your grandfather is Pedro Infante, finding your identity isn’t easy,” she passionately said during the conversation in Miami. “I just remember wanting to have that ranchero style that represented our genre. And because I’m in mariachi, there are so many rules with our outfits.”

The announcement of her new deal coincides with the upcoming release of her first single under Sony titled “Hazme Tuya.” The track is out Friday, April 1.

Viviana Villacorta: The First Latina Player Drafted in the 2021 NWSL College Draft

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Viviana Villacorta is beaming with Pride…

The Orlando Pride have selected the 21-year-old UCLA midfielder as the No. 9 pick in the first round of the 2021 NWSL College Draft. She’s the first Latina selected in this year’s draft.

Villacorta played in every match during her three-year tenure with UCLA, scoring seven goals and adding 16 assists during 71 total appearances with the Bruins. A California native, Villacorta is an efficient passer through the midfield whose extensive college experience could help her transition immediately into a role with the Pride.

It was the first draft pick for general manager Ian Fleming and executive vice president Amanda Duffy during their tenure with the Pride.

Villacorta will join a midfield unit that’s been a focal point for the Pride throughout the offseason. After strengthening the team’s backline depth in 2020, coach Marc Skinner focused on bringing in players who could increase the team’s on-ball possession to allow the Pride to command the tempo of matches.

The Pride will begin preseason training in Orlando on February 1, with the 2021 Challenge Cup slated to begin in mid-April.

Villacorta was coached at UCLA by Amanda Cromwell, a former U.S. women’s national team standout who coached at UCF in Orlando from 1999-2013.

Steven Canals Developing Drama Series “In The End” for ABC

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the beginning of The End for Steven Canals…

ABC has put in development In The End, a drama from the 39-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican screenwriter, producer and Pose co-creator and his Story Ave. Productions, and 20th Century Fox Television, where Canals is under a deal.

Written and executive produced by Canals, the project centers on Kiona Brown, who, incapable of living life to the fullest, makes the only logical choice – to embrace death as an end-of-life doula. With an eclectic list of patients – including cancer survivor Mariana Cortez – Kiona soon discovers the secret to a new beginning is to embrace what happens…in the end.

In The End is among the first projects for Canals under his overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television.

Canals co-created and executive produces the Emmy– and Golden Globe-nominated and Peabody Award-winning drama series Pose, named one of the Best TV Programs of the Year by the American Film Institute in 2018 and 2019. It will return for a third season in 2020.

A 2015 graduate of UCLA’s MFA Screenwriting program, Canals began his journey as a storyteller in high school, producing the documentary short Turf Violence: What’s It All About?co-funded by HBO Family. He went on to earn a BA in Cinema, and a Masters in Student Affairs & Diversity from Binghamton University. While attending UCLA, Canals served as a Research Assistant at Hungry Jackal Productions. In 2016 Canals was a staff writer on Freeform’s Dead of Summer, the same year his short film, Afuera, premiered at the LA Film Festival.

He made his TV directorial debut with the eighth episode of the second season ofPose titled “Revelations.”

Carolina Rivera Signs Deals with Verve and Netflix

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Carolina Rivera has a new deal…

The Mexican screenwriter and producer has signed with Verve and entered an overall deal at Netflix.

Under the Netflix agreement, Rivera will serve as the executive producer of the television series Madre Solo Hay Dos, which she created.

Rivera is the co-executive producer of the CW’s sci-fi drama Roswell: New Mexico, which recently wrapped.

She also worked on Jane the Virgin.

Marc Cherry’s production company purchased Rivera’s “Ellas son… la alegría del hogar,”which was originally created for Televisa. The series was the basis for Cherry’s Lifetime series Devious Maids, starring Roselyn Sanchez.

Rivera studied screenwriting at the UCLA Extension Writers Program and wrote her first feature Cilantro y Perejil, which went on to win three Ariel Awards— Mexico’s equivalent of the Oscars— for Best Original Screenplay, Best Story and Best Original Song. Cilantro y Perejil made history in the Mexican film industry as the first Mexican title to be screened at commercial movie theaters throughout the country.

Her writing credits include more than 15 feature films. In 2005, Rivera received the Motion Picture Association Award for Best Hispanic Screenplay for her screenplay Enemigos Íntimos.

In addition, she worked as head writer for the serial telenovela Lucho en Familia and worked on Amor Cautivo. She headed the children’s television development team at Channel 11, Latin America’s largest public television network. While there, she created and served as head writer for Bizbirije and El Divan de Valentina.She has also served as an International Emmy AwardsJuror for Dramatic Series and TV movies.

Frankie Amaya Scores First Career Goal in FC Cincinnati Win Over Atlanta United

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Major League Soccer first for Frankie Amaya…

The 19-year-old Mexican American soccer player scored his first career goal in the 76th minute, and FC Cincinnati took advantage of nine-man Atlanta United team to pull off a stunning 1-0 victory Thursday in the MLS is Back Tournament near Orlando.

The win was the first of the season for Cincinnati (1-0-3, 3 points), and an even bigger upset within Group E at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Cincinnati lost its opener 4-0 to rival Columbus, but prevailed thanks to an undisciplined Atlanta side that finished the match with nine men.

Amaya showed his strength and accuracy with a bending strike from just outside the center of the box, beating an outstretched Brad Guzan into the far-left corner for the game’s lone goal.

For Atlanta (2-0-2, four points), the loss could be a crushing blow to its hopes of reaching the knockout round. Playing without injured star Josef Martinez (torn ACL), Atlanta opened the tournament with a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls.

This marked the first time in club history that Atlanta has failed to score in back-to-back regular-season MLS contests. It obviously did not help that they played most of the match a man down.

Atlanta went down to 10 men when midfielder Jake Mulraney was sent off in the 26th minute for a pressing foul that also happened to be his second yellow card of the match. However, Atlanta’s Pity Martinez had a point-blank chance late in the first half, but Cincinnati keeper Przemyslaw Tyton was up to the task.

It appeared Martinez was set for a penalty shot in the final seconds of the first half after being fouled deep in the box. However, a VAR check ruled he was offside before the infraction.

Cincinnati eventually stepped up the pressure. When Adrien Regattin found Amaya amid some traffic, the talented youngster drilled his left-footed attempt into the goal, and enough for FCC to record its first league victory since Sept. 14.

Atlanta dropped to nine men when JJ Williams was slapped with a red card late in stoppage time.

Amaya was the first overall draft pick of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, and the first first-overall pick to be born in the 2000s. Amaya played one year of college soccer for UCLA and prior to UCLA, played club soccer with Pateadores SC, a premier youth club in Southern California.

Carlos Santana to Give Keynote Address at the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA’s Commencement Ceremony

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Santana is preppin’ for a supernatural graduation…

The 72-year-old Mexican Grammy-winning guitarist and entrepreneur will be the featured speaker for the 2020 commencement ceremony at the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLAon June 19.

In a statement about the event, the school’s inaugural dean, Eileen L. Stempel, said that Santana’s “inclusive global sound and commitment to social justice are emblematic of our school’s core values,” adding, “I am deeply moved by his desire to share words of inspiration and encouragement with our graduates during this important time.”

“I feel honored to be speaking to young musicians and a new generation of music scholars,” said the Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer in a statement. “The class of 2020 is resilient and their voices are needed now more than ever. I want them to use their music as a platform to empower and unite as we seek justice and creative solutions during these challenging times.”

The 2020 commencement will take place online on June 19 at 4:00 p.m. PDT; it will also include music and remarks by graduating students and a performance by the Herbie Hancock Institute for Jazz Performance at UCLA.

This year’s graduating class at the school will feature 130 graduates from the departments of ethnomusicology, global jazz studies, music, music industry and musicology.

Gina Torres to Take Part in Benefit Concert for the National Immigration Law Center

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres is giving back to the immigrant community…

The 50-year-old Afro-Cuban American actress and Pearson star will participate in a concert being live-streamed Saturday to benefit low-income migrants.

The show will also feature Marcia Cross, Grant Gustin, Cheyenne Jackson, Rachel Bay Jones, Melissa Manchester, Eric McCormack, Caroline Rhea, Liz Callaway,Yuri Sardarov, Dancing with the Stars pros Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach, Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood.

Performers include Jane Lynch, Wayne Bradyand Laurie Metcalf.

The concert is set for 9:00 pm EDT at UCLA’s Royce Hall. It’ll be broadcast via Facebook Liveand at ConcertsforAmerica.com. Proceeds will benefit the National Immigration Law Center.

It’s the latest in a series of benefits created and hosted by Seth Rudetskyand James Wesley, the host and producer of Sirius XM’s “On Broadway” show.

Gonzalez Breaks NCAA Record for Career Field Goals

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Zane Gonzalez has kicked his way into the annals of college football history…

The Latino kicker for Arizona State University is the new NCAA record holder for field goals in a career.

Gonzalez hit from 35, 23 and 46 yards in Saturday night’s 23-20 win over UCLA to reach 89 career field goals, passing Florida State‘s Dustin Hopkins, who had 88 from 2009-12.

“Honestly it hasn’t really set in yet,” Gonzalez said afterwards, flanked by holder Matt Haack and snapper Mitchell Fraboni. “Any time you hold a national record it just speaks volumes. It’s a good way to go out senior year.”

The Sun Devils needed all of those 3-point tries after sputtering offensively in the first half and watching backup quarterback Brady White limp off with a right leg injury in the fourth quarter.

In Gonzalez’s career, he has connected on 89 of 111 attempts (80.2 percent).

“You’re talking about a monumental accomplishment there,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham said of Gonzalez. “I’m proud of Zane. That’s huge.”

He broke former UCLA kicker Kai Forbath‘s Pac-12 record (85) last week.

Bufoni to Appear at the 2016 Kids’ Choice Sports Awards

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Leticia Bufoni is ready to Kid around…

The 23-year-old Brazilian professional street skateboarder is among several top athletes who’ve signed on to take part in the 2016 Kids’ Choice Sports Awards.

Bufoni, who became the only female athlete to win three X Games gold medals in the same year back in 2013, is nominated in the Queen of Swag category.

In addition to Bufoni, other top athletes set to participate include Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

In addition, Nickelodeon has lined up Nick Cannon, along with several other top athletes, to hit the stage at UCLA‘s Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Also taking part are Curry’s Warriors teammate Klay Thompson and fellow NBA pro Iman Shumper (Cleveland Cavaliers); NFL players Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Von Miller (Denver Broncos); MLB player Prince Fielder (Texas Rangers); NHL player Tyler Toffoli (Los Angeles Kings); Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza (American Pharoah); professional snowboarder Jamie Anderson; and professional skateboarder Tony Hawk.

The awards show is set to tape Thursday and will air from 8:00-9:30 pm ET/PT on July 17.

Seattle Seahawks two-time Super Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson will return as host, and retired NBA star Kobe Bryant is set to receive the Legend Award.

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