Aztecs playing basketball in Costa Mesa? Maybe Not

Aztecs? Humm. Anybody who has read a little of Mesoamerican history knows how an Aztec looks like. Does a semi-naked guy, wearing a colorful feathered costume ring a bell? If it doesn’t, just go to San Diego State University website, and you’ll see one.

For some vociferous Costa Mesa residents, like the now infamous gadfly Martin H. Millard and some government officials, the Aztecs are more than the mythical Mesoamerican warriors, they are a bunch of basketball players from Santa Ana, bringing to Costa Mesa fields not only the beauty of this game, but also their alleged pathological behaviors.

Believe me, if Santa Ana and Costa Mesa were two different countries, there would be a thick concrete wall dividing both countries. There is so much animosity in Costa Mesa toward anything coming from Santa Ana. A love-hate affair best describes the relationship between these two cities, at least many Costa Mesans look at it that way.

Back in May, a Santa Ana based Basketball league, The Aztecs, requested the Costa Mesa Park and Recreation Commission to use the Downtown Recreation Center facility to play games on Sunday for about seven hours. During tough economic times, one might think that Costa Mesa officials would welcome the $40.000 in annual fees, and use that money to reshape their ailing economy. Surprisingly they said “No” because they wanted to please the most radical voices of the city. A few weeks later, and after so much criticism from moderate residents, the PR commissioners revalued their decision, and accepted the Aztec deal.

Soon after that, I guess, Aztec league organizers and players celebrated with tequila and carnitas, undermining the next move of the nay-sayers. Recently, Councilman Eric Bever, the same guy who worked hard to prohibit kicking a soccer ball at Paularino Park, brought back the issue. It’ll be scheduled for discussion at the next or following city council meeting. Most of us in the Goat Town of Costa Mesa are very suspicious of his decision. In case people forgot, the reason behind making Paularino Park into a “passive” facility was to drive Latino kids and their families away from that area.

Since Bever has made a strong alliance with Allan Mansoor and Gary Monahan in the local council, the Aztecs might have to wait another season before they start playing basketball in the Downtown Recreation Center. Once these three guys are up to something, it’s virtually impossible to change their minds.

Humberto Caspa


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