Anaheim Assemblymember Avelino Valencia is a former tight end for San Jose State who tried out for the NFL. Before entering politics, he was a community college football coach.
“The benefit that football has had in particular to my life, I cannot put a monetary amount on it,” he told his colleagues on the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee.
kAm$@ :E H2D A2:?7F= 7@C ‘2=6?4:2 E@ E9C@H 9:D DFAA@CE 369:?5 2 3:== 962565 7@C E96 pDD6>3=J 7=@@C E92E H@F=5 >2<6 r2=:7@C?:2 E96 7:CDE DE2E6 E@ D6E 2 >:?:>F> 286 7@C E24<=6 7@@E32== — 32??:?8 E96 DA@CE 7@C 49:=5C6? F?56C `a] qFE 96 D2:5 E96 6G:56?46 E92E E96 C6A62E65 3C2:? EC2F>2 7@@E32== A=2J6CD 6?5FC6 82>6 27E6C 82>6 😀 E@@ 4=62C]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 3642FD6 :E 😀 2 G6CJ 52?86C@FD 2?5 G:@=6?E DA@CE[” 96 D2:5[ 9:D 3C@25 D9@F=56CD 7:==:?8 9:D DF:E ;24<6E =:<6 2 D6E @7 7@@E32== A25D] “%96C6’D ?@ :7D[ 2?5D @C 3FED 23@FE E92E]”k^Am
kAm%96 4@>>:EE66’D da A2CEJ=:?6 G@E6 7C@> ‘2=6?4:2 2?5 9:D 76==@H s6>@4C2ED =2DE H66< E@ 25G2?46 E96 3:== D6E 😕 >@E:@? H92E’D =:<6=J E@ 36 @?6 @7 E96 >@C6 6>@E:@?2==J 492C865 :DDF6D r2=:7@C?:2 =2H>2<6CD H:== 4@?D:56C 😕 a_ac 2D E96J H256 :?E@ J6E 2?@E96C 4@?E6?E:@FD 5632E6 @G6C A2C6?E2= C:89ED]k^Am
kAm%9:D E:>6[ :?DE625 @7 G244:?6 C6BF:C6>6?ED @C {vq%” A@=:4:6D 2E AF3=:4 D49@@=D[ E96J’C6 5632E:?8 E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ’D >@DE A@AF=2C DA@CE[ @?6 E92E 92D 2 5@4F>6?E65 9:DE@CJ @7 :ED A=2J6CD 86EE:?8 563:=:E2E:?8 3C2:? 5:D62D6 7C@> C6A62E65 3=@HD E@ E96 9625] $6G6C2= 9:89AC@7:=6 6I2>A=6D @7 7@C>6C A=2J6CD — >@DE ?@E23=J E96 DF:4:56 @7 =686?52CJ }u{ =:?6324<6C yF?:@C $62F H9@ DF776C65 7C@> 2 5686?6C2E:G6 3C2:? 5:D62D6 — 92G6 AC@>AE65 E96 }u{ 5@H? E@ J@FE9 =628F6D E@ ECJ E@ >2<6 E24<=:?8 D276C]k^Am
kAm#6D62C496CD D2J E24<=6 7@@E32== 😀 DE:== 52?86C@FD 56DA:E6 E96 492?86D E@ E96 82>6] u@C :?DE2?46[ q@DE@? &?:G6CD:EJ AF3=:D965 C6D62C49 =2DE J62C 7:?5:?8 E92E A=2J6CD H9@’G6 DA6?E >@C6 E92? “ J62CD 😕 E96 DA@CE 92G6 2? :?4C62D65 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 3C2:? EC2F>2[ =625:?8 E@ A@@C :>AF=D6 4@?EC@= 2?5 E9:?<:?8 AC@3=6>D]k^Am
kAmqFE E96C6’D ?@ 8F2C2?E66 $24C2>6?E@ s6>@4C2E:4 pDD6>3=J>6>36C z6G:? |4r2CEJ’D 3:== H:== 25G2?46 36J@?5 E96 pDD6>3=J[ 6G6? 😕 2 {68:D=2EFC6 E92E’D ?@E D9J 23@FE 4:E:?8 >65:42= C6D62C49 E@ >2<6 564:D:@?D E92E @FEC286 A2C6?E2=C:89ED 8C@FAD 2?5 364@>6 “?2??J DE2E6” 7@556C 7@C ?2E:@?2= 4@?D6CG2E:G6 >65:2]k^Am
kAmpDD6>3=J q:== fbc H@F=5 A92D6 😕 2 32?[ 7:CDE AC@9:3:E:?8 49:=5C6? F?56C e 7C@> A=2J:?8 E24<=6 7@@E32== DE2CE:?8 😕 a_ad[ 2?5 H@C<:?8 FA E@ 32C E9@D6 J@F?86C E92? `a 3J a_ah] xE >FDE A2DD @? E96 pDD6>3=J 7=@@C 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 >@?E9 :7 :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 6G6?EF2==J >2<6 :ED H2J E9C@F89 E96 DE2E6 $6?2E6 E@ v@G] v2G:? }6HD@>’D 56D<]k^Am
kAm}6HD@>’D @77:46 D2:5 96 H@F=5 G6E@ 2?J 3:== H:E9 2? @FEC:89E 32? @? J@FE9 E24<=6 7@@E32==]k^Am
kAm“|J p5>:?:DEC2E:@? H:== H@C< H:E9 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 2?5 E96 3:==’D 2FE9@C E@ DEC6?8E96? D276EJ 😕 J@FE9 7@@E32== — H9:=6 6?DFC:?8 A2C6?ED 92G6 E96 7C665@> E@ 564:56 H9:49 DA@CED 2C6 >@DE 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C E96:C 49:=5C6?[” 96 D2:5 😕 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am
kAmp 92?57F= @7 @E96C DE2E6 =68:D=2EFC6D 92G6 5632E65 D:>:=2C J@FE9 E24<=6 7@@E32== 32?D] }@?6 92G6 A2DD65] p D:>:=2C G6CD:@? @7 E96 3:== 😕 a_`g 72:=65 😕 r2=:7@C?:2 E@ 6G6? 86E @FE @7 4@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 E96 H2J[ =2H>2<6CD 2C6 DFC6 E@ D66 2 C6A62E @7 =2DE H66<’D 962C:?8] s@K6?D @7 4@2496D[ J@FE9 DA@CED 2DD@4:2E:@? @77:4:2=D[ ;6CD6J4=25 AC6E66? 7@@E32== A=2J6CD 2?5 E96:C A2C6?ED DA:==65 @FE @7 E96 962C:?8 C@@> :?E@ E96 92==H2J 2D E96J =:?65 FA E@ E2<6 E96 >:4C@A9@?6 2?5 FC86 E96 4@>>:EE66 E@ <:== E96 >62DFC6]k^Am
kAm%96 8C@FAD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 4@2=:E:@? @7 $2G6 *@FE9 u@@E32==[ H9@D6 AC:G2E6 u2463@@< 8C@FA 92D ?62C=J f[___ >6>36CD[ 92G6 AC@>:D65 E@ <66A FA E96 AC6DDFC6]k^Am
kAmp=C625J[ E96 :DDF6 92D E2<6? @? 2 A2CE:D2? E@?6] p C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C |@>D 7@C {:36CEJ[ 2? :?7=F6?E:2= 8C@FA 2>@?8 4@?D6CG2E:G6D <?@H? 7@C D66<:?8 E@ 32? E6IE3@@<D E92E C676C6?46 86?56C :56?E:EJ 2?5 24256>:4 5:D4FDD:@?D 23@FE DJDE6>:4 C24:D>[ H2D 2>@?8 E9@D6 H9@ E6DE:7:65 😕 @AA@D:E:@? =2DE H66<]k^Am
kAm“wF55=6 FA r2=:7@C?:2] !C@E64E J@FC A2C6?E2= C:89ED] $E2?5 FA E@ q:8 v@G6C?>6?E[” E96 r2=:7@C?:2 *@FE9 u@@E32== p==:2?46 HC@E6 @? :ED u2463@@< A286 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9[ FC8:?8 7@==@H6CD E@ 4@?E24E |4r2CEJ’D @77:46]k^Am
k9bm*@FE9 E24<=6 7@@E32== 72?D 4:E6 C246[ 4@>>F?:EJ E:6Dk^9bm
kAmqFE J@FE9 E24<=6 7@@E32== 😀 5:776C6?E 7C@> @E96C A2C6?E2=C:89ED 5632E6D E92E 2C6 >@C6 62D:=J 7C2>65 2D 2 #6AF3=:42?s6>@4C2E 5:49@E@>J]k^Am
kAmpD E96J H6:89 E96 3:==[ =:36C2= =2H>2<6CD H:== 4@?D:56C 2C8F>6?ED 7C@> E96 =:<6D @7 $24C2>6?E@ r@F?EJ $96C:77 y:> r@@A6C[ H9@ @AA@D6D :E]k^Am
kAmr@@A6C[ 2 q=24< 7@C>6C s6>@4C2E:4 pDD6>3=J>6>36C 7C@> t=< vC@G6[ H@CC:6D E92E 32??:?8 J@FE9 E24<=6 7@@E32== H@F=5 E2<6 2H2J 2? @FE=6E 7@C J@F?8 49:=5C6? 😕 q=24< 4@>>F?:E:6D H9@ >:89E @E96CH:D6 7:?5 E96:C H2J :?E@ 2 82?8]k^Am
kAm“}@E23=J[ q=24< >2=6 49:=5C6? 6?8286 😕 J@FE9 E24<=6 7@@E32== 2E 9:896C C2E6D E92? 2?J @E96C C246[” r@@A6C E@=5 E96 4@>>:EE66 =2DE H66< 😕 9:D D96C:77’D F?:7@C>] “%@ >J <?@H=6586[ E96C6’D 366? ?@ AC6DDFC6 E@ =:>:E A2CE:4:A2E:@? 😕 =24C@DD6[ D@446C @C :46 9@4<6J[ H9:49 2== 92G6 4@?4FDD:@? C2E6D D:>:=2C E@ J@FE9 E24<=6 7@@E32== 3FE 2C6 AC6G2=6?E 😕 >@C6 277=F6?E 2?5 6I4=FD:G6 4@>>F?:E:6D]”k^Am
kAm{2H>2<6CD[ 96 D2:5[ 92G6 2=C625J A2DD65 =68:D=2E:@? 96 2FE9@C65 😕 a_`h E92E =:>:E65 7F==4@?E24E J@FE9 7@@E32== AC24E:46D E@ ?@ >@C6 E92? b_ >:?FE6D A6C 52J[ EH@ 52JD 2 H66<] %92E 3:== 925 DFAA@CE 7C@> E96 r2=:7@C?:2 *@FE9 u@@E32== p==:2?46]k^Am
kAm{2H>2<6CD 2=D@ H:== 92G6 E@ H6:89 E96:C @H? 6IA6C:6?46D H:E9 E96 DA@CE] pDD6>3=J>6>36C %@> {24<6J[ @?6 @7 E96 #6AF3=:42?D @? E96 DA@CED 2?5 E@FC:D> 4@>>:EE66[ E@=5 9:D 4@==628F6D =2DE H66< E92E 96’D “A2CE:4:A2E65 😕 7=28 7@@E32== 2?5 … A2CE:4:A2E65 😕 E24<=6 7@@E32==] %96J’C6 5:776C6?E]”k^Am
kAm“x7 H6 32? E9:D DA@CE[ H6 E2<6 2H2J E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 2?5 >2?J @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7C@> 49:=5C6? E@ 8C@H – ?@E @?=J 2D 2? 2E9=6E6 – 3FE 2D 2 D6=724EF2=:K65 25F=E H9@ <?@HD H96? E96J 92G6 E96 42A23:=:E:6D E@ @G6C4@>6 2? @3DE24=6 2?5 249:6G6 DF446DD 7FCE96C[” D2:5 {24<6J[ 2 7@C>6C r2=:7@C?:2 w:89H2J !2EC@= D6C862?E 7C@> !2=>52=6] “(6 E2<6 2H2J 2 =:76=@?8 A2DD:@? 7@C E96 =@G6 @7 E96 82>6]”k^Am
k9bmtIA6CED H2C? @7 52?86CD 7C@> E24<=:?8k^9bm
kAm|4r2CEJ[ E96 3:==’D 2FE9@C 2?5 2 7@C>6C !@A (2C?6C J@FE9 7@@E32== A=2J6C 9:>D6=7[ D2:5 H2?E:?8 E@ C6DEC:4E J@F?8 <:5D 7C@> E24<=:?8 6249 @E96C H@?’E ?682E6 E96:C =@G6 7@C 7@@E32==[ 2 DA@CE E92E 96 D2:5 92D 366? A2CE @7 9:D 72>:=J 7@C 2D =@?8 2D 96 42? C6>6>36C]k^Am
kAm“*@F 42? =@G6 7@@E32== 2?5 =@G6 @FC <:5D 2?5 ECJ E@ AC@E64E @FC <:5D 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[” 96 E@=5 E96 4@>>:EE66[ 27E6C AF==:?8 @FE 2 32== H:E9 2 ch6CD =@8@]k^Am
kAm%96 6IA6CED |4r2CEJ 3C@F89E 😕 E@ E6DE:7J 😕 DFAA@CE @7 9:D 3:== :?4=F565 A65:2EC:4 ?6FC@=@8:DE sC] $E6==2 {682C52[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 }6FC@=@8J $@4:6EJ[ H9:49 DA@?D@C65 E96 3:==] %96 8C@FA DA6?E S`f[hgb @? =@33J:?8 =2DE J62C @? E9:D 3:== 2?5 @E96CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =2E6DE C6A@CED 7:=65 H:E9 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6]k^Am
kAm$96 A@:?E65 @FE E92E E96 }u{ 92D 366? 92G:?8 :ED @H? A=2J6CD D965 E96:C A25D 2?5 96=>6ED E@ A=2J 7=28 7@@E32== 😕 :ED D:8?2EFC6 6I9:3:E:@? 82>6[ E96 !C@ q@H=]k^Am
kAm“(96? E96 }u{ E2<6D >62DFC6D E@ AC@E64E :ED A=2J6CD 3J A=2J:?8 7=28 7@@E32== 😕 E96 !C@ q@H=[ :E 😀 ?@E ;FDE D2768F2C5:?8 :ED >F=E:>:==:@? :?G6DE>6?ED[” {682C52 E@=5 E96 4@>>:EE66] “xE 56=:G6CD E96 4=62C >6DD286 E92E :>A24E :?;FC:6D 2?5 4F>F=2E:G6 9625 EC2F>2 2C6 A6C:=@FD 2?5 D9@F=5 36 >:?:>:K65]”k^Am
kAmpDD6>3=J>6>36C ‘2=6?4:2[ E96 7@C>6C 7@@E32== A=2J6C[ E@=5 r2=|2EE6CD 😕 2? :?E6CG:6H E92E E96 3:== 2?5 E96 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 962=E9 @7 r2=:7@C?:2’D J@FE9 7@@E32== A=2J6CD H6C6 G6CJ >F49 @? 9:D >:?5 =2DE J62C[ 2D 96 DE@@5 @? E96 D:56=:?6D @7 9:D 2=>2 >2E6C[ $2? y@D6 $E2E6[ 5FC:?8 :ED 82>6 H:E9 :ED C:G2=[ r2= $E2E6 uC6D?@]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 H2D DECF4< 3J “9@H G:@=6?E 2?5 52>28:?8” E96 DA@CE 96 A=2J65 :D] w6 4@F=5?’E :>28:?6 E2<:?8 E9@D6 D@CED @7 9:ED 2E E96 DA665D E96 A=2J6CD H6C6 >@G:?8[ ?@H[ 2D 2 bdJ62C@=5 >2?]k^Am
kAm’2=6?4:2 D2:5 E92E J@F?8 <:5D 42? A=2J 7=28 7@@E32== 2?5 DE:== =62C? E96 D<:==D E96J’== ?665 E@ A=2J E24<=6 7@@E32== H96? E96J’C6 @=56C – H:E9@FE C:D<:?8 3C2:? 52>286]k^Am
kAm“sC:==D[ 364@>:?8 >@C6 2E9=6E:4[ 28:=:EJ[ DA665[ E92E >2<6D J@F 2 36EE6C 7@@E32== A=2J6C[” 96 D2:5] “qFE E24<=:?8n %92E 4@>6D D64@?5 92?5] *@F 42? 7:8FC6 E92E @FE 😕 2 G6CJ D9@CE A6C:@5 @7 E:>6]”k^Am
