Ads by Google Ads by Google

Oceanside center dedicated to Junior Seau

The Samoan community, dignitaries and fans of the late football great gathered Saturday to give an Oceanside landmark a new name: the Junior Seau Beach Community Center.The center, below the Oceanside Municipal Pier, is a longtime hub of youth athletic activity. It sits next to the recently renamed Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre, both buildings mere steps from the beach the Chargers star enjoyed during his youth and after his NFL career ended.The City Council voted to name both venues after Seau, who died May 2 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.Saturday's ceremony brought hundreds together outside the community center to see the new sign unveiled. Seau was of Samoan descent, and the dedication ceremony was part of the Samoan Cultural Celebration that drew large crowds to the amphitheater all day.At the celebration, awards were given to basketball players who participate in Junior's Juniors, a youth organization started and sustained by Seau.\This is a special day