Director of Coaching Teddy Chronopoulos and Board Director Don Sheppard shared in Chelsea’s success this week, and placed some finishing touches on the LAFC/Chelsea relationship. “We had very successful meetings with Chelsea FC, culminating in our going to the Chelsea/Middlesbrough game, won by Chelsea 2—0. So Chelsea wins! And so does LAFC, now officially LAFC Chelsea.”

During the business meetings, LAFC obtained approval of our new logo, proudly on display here on the web site. We also agreed on the elements of key financial support for LAFC through merchandising of product, offering of scholarships, and expansion of the development of players, wrapped up in a three year business plan. Most notably, Teddy firmed up a real commitment from Chelsea to provide coach and player training, including evaluation and measurement, and the opportunity for players and teams to visit Chelsea. Teddy and his staff will now work out the fine details of this relationship, a full- fledged commitment by Chelsea to develop LAFC players and coaches for the world stage, something that is not being done anywhere else in the country.

Looking for a game to watch this Sunday, besides the crashing helmets? Chelsea’s win this week, combined with Liverpool’s tie and Arsenal’s tie the same evening, vaulted Chelsea into 2nd place in the Premiership. On Sunday Chelsea meets Liverpool away, so bring out your Chelsea colors! Teddy and Don brought back a limited supply of LAFC Chelsea Spirit Wear, in fact just 75 items, that will be on sale tomorrow, Saturday, during the Development Academy games at La Canada High School at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. It will all sell out quickly! If you have an opportunity to come by and cheer our winning LAFC/Chelsea Development Academy teams, pick up some Spirit Wear. Further details of our unique relationship with Chelsea FC will be published in the coming weeks.

Chelsea wins! LAFC wins!

Pam Dunn was deeply committed to ensuring that kids from economically challenged families were given an opportunity to play top-tier club soccer. In honor of Pam’s commitment to athletes with financial hardship, The Los Angeles Futbol Club has established the Pam Dunn Scholarship. In the words of her life-partner, Ria Cousineau: “Money given in Pam’s name will be used to provide financial assistance to youth soccer players in Southern California with the ability, but not the means, to play Club soccer.”

To contribute to this great cause, please send a check made payable to LAFC at the following address:

The Pam Dunn Scholarship
c/o Los Angeles Futbol Club
PO Box 2154
Simi Valley, CA 93062

January 09, 2009

There are times when Pablo Cruz dribbles the soccer ball like he has Velcro attached to his cleats.

He’s clever with possessions in ways that extend beyond technical skill. Some players simply have the gift of making things happen, and Cruz is certainly one of them.

Yes, the Los Angeles Football Club U18 midfielder is a standout in more ways than one. But just because he’s been blessed with style doesn’t mean he’s a showy player.

Far from it.

Pablo Cruz is small, but plays a big game.Whatever flair Cruz may display on the soccer field comes organically. In fact, he’s as soft-spoken and understated off the field as he is entertaining on it.

“People always say that I try to entertain, but that’s just how I play,” Cruz said. “I love to dribble. It’s just in my blood.”

It’s also in his memory bank.

Cruz grew up watching his favorite Mexican League stars, infatuated with their attacking styles. He harnessed his moves on the pitch in Pasadena, CA while playing for a Latino league every Saturday.

“The Latino style is more action,” Cruz said. “The way we play the game – we attack, and that’s our main priority.”

But Cruz has learned to balance his priorities on the field. His decision-making is constantly getting better and he’s beginning to make defensive presence a main concern.

These were two areas he displayed improvement in during his play at the US U18 training camp last week in Carson, California.

Despite a sparkling camp that saw Cruz turn some heads, he did not make the 18-man roster that was invited to Australia.

“It’s difficult when you get that many players in to watch,” said his LAFU U18 coach Josh Henderson. “Maybe the coaches saw something they didn’t like. He’s not the biggest guy, but if you watch Brazil and their youth national team they aren’t a bunch of giants either.”

The camp was far from a failure however, and Cruz earned the respect of the players there.

South Carolina midfielder Justin Watson said plainly, “I love playing with that guy.”

Other players shared the sentiment, as he shined along the likes of Miles Byass, Jose Altamirano, Amobi Okugo, Scott Caldwell, Scott Prozeller and Kofi Sarkodie.

All of which made his omission from the final team somewhat of a surprise – he played with the elite group on the second to last scrimmage, but was placed on another squad for the final Sunday.

“I was disappointed I didn’t get called. I felt like maybe I should’ve been,” Cruz said. “But I thought it was a great experience and I look at it like God has a better plan for me. I have to try harder next time and let it motivate me to work hard.”

Henderson loves his player’s attitude.

“He hasn’t complained about it, which is easy for some kids to do,” Henderson said. “He’s focused on what he can do and it speaks volumes about what kind of kid he is. He’s always early to practice and great to be around. I’ve got to coach some talented kids, but rarely do they have the off the field attributes he does. I haven’t seen many like him.”

Cruz is now focusing on playing college soccer, possibly at UCLA, and continuing to improve.

He seems to learn from every experience he’s afforded, like when he traveled to Japan with the US U17 squad and played against various countries.

So what did Cruz gather from competing against the likes of Japan and Australia?

Probably something stylistic to add to his wide arsenal, right? Wrong.

“Other countries work so hard,” he said. “They’re always playing soccer – until it gets dark. That let’s me know I need to work harder too.”

I’m deeply saddened to tell you that Pam Dunn passed away on December 26th. I’m sure you recognize her magnificent smile. And hopefully you’ve enjoyed the wonderful energy, intelligence, and caring of Pam and her partner, Ria Cousineau, and their amazing children, Cary, currently on the BU18 team, and Casey, currently on a GU14 team. Our legacy on this earth won’t be measured by what we have accomplished or accumulated, but by what we pass on to future generations. Pam’s legacy will grace this earth and make this world a better place.

I loved Pam for her selfless giving to our Special Olympics teams and because she knew that seeing and supporting Cary and Casey play and excel at soccer was more important than victory in the courtroom or in closed session. And she gave generously to see that economically disadvantaged kids had the same opportunities to be at LAFC as her kids did. I loved her humanity and compassion.

Below you’ll see a full article that appeared in the Met News that talks more about Pam’s professional life.

Pam’s memorial will be on Sat Jan 24th at 4 p.m. at Southwestern School of Law in Los Angeles. Details of scholarships being set up in Pam’s name are pending. We’ll supply details when they are available.

Don Sheppard

By SHERRI M. OKAMOTO, Staff Writer

Services are pending for Pasadena appellate attorney and Los Angeles County Bar Association Board of Trustees member Pamela Dunn, who unexpectedly passed away Friday at the age of 59.

She is survived by her partner, Maria “Ria” Cousineau of Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold, their son Cary, and their daughter Casey.

A scholarship fund is being set up in Dunn’s name, Cousineau said, and the arrangements for memorial services should be finalized today.

Cousineau said the event will likely take place in January at Southwestern. The two met while students at the school over 25 years ago.

Dunn had battled lupus for several years, and her heart apparently failed due to complications from the disease, Cousineau said.

LACBA President Danette Meyers said that the organization was “stunned” by Dunn’s death, adding that “the good truly do die young, they truly do.”

Meyers said she had known Dunn for over 18 years, and that she had expected Dunn to eventually become LACBA president.

“I cannot comprehend the fact that she’s not with us,” Meyers said, recalling that less that two weeks ago she had walked with Dunn to their cars after a meeting talking about the upcoming holidays.

“The Board is planning on doing something,” Meyers pledged. “What we’re going to do, I’m not quite sure, but I guarantee you there will be something.”

Dunn belonged to several professional organizations, including the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, California Women Lawyers, Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

She served as chair of the California State Bar Appellate Courts Committee, and LACBA’s Appellate Courts Committee. She also served as an adjunct associate professor of law at Loyola Law School and Southwestern.

Additionally, Dunn established LACBA’s AIDS Service Project and assisted this district’s Court of Appeal in establishing its Settlement Conference and Mediation Program.

Robin Meadow of Greines Martin worked with Dunn training mediators as part of the appellate court mediator program. He remembered Dunn as “someone who would pretty much light up a room when she came in.”

Meadow says “it was always fun to do stuff with her, not just because she knew her stuff…but because she just always seemed to be having a good time.”

Dunn earned her law degree from Southwestern University, and her undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida.

Mary Newcombe, an appellate court attorney with this district’s Court of Appeal, Div. Seven, said that she “just hit it off” with Dunn after they met as young, second-career attorneys active in gay rights advocacy in the mid 1980s.

Dunn was once a music critic for a newspaper in Florida and a teacher before coming to California and pursuing law, Newcombe said.

As an advocate, Newcombe praised Dunn as “one of the superb practitioners in this state,” who “was always really prepared for argument…knew her judges, knew how to talk to them about the case law, [and] knew how to present a case in its best light.”

Sole practitioner Daniel J. Koes, Dunn’s former law partner, called Dunn his “mentor.”
He said: “She taught me how to read a record, research difficult issues, draft a winning brief, how to argue…she taught me everything.”

Koes met Dunn while she was working at Robie & Matthai P.C., and joined the firm as well. The two later established their own partnership, Dunn Koes LLP.

“We called Houston’s our firm’s cafeteria,” he recalled, based on how frequently they dined there. “That was our special thing.”

Before she joined Robie & Matthai, Dunn was with Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP. Feris M.Greenberger remembers her friend and former colleague was “a wonderful story teller” and “such a cheerleader for our profession.”

Greenberger recalls her friend loved iced tea “with extra lemon,” unblended scotch, fountain pens and starched white shirts.

Koes also said Dunn was “all about the iced tea,” with “like, the entire lemon” on the side.
But above all else, Cousineau opined, Dunn “loved her children and was prouder of her children than anything else in the world,” adding that her partner, who “was never for a loss of words,” “had a heart of gold” and “put herself second, always.”

Copyright 2008, Metropolitan News Company