Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos has declined interviews with most San Diego media outlets. But he is really making the rounds up in Los Angeles.

Spanos fired off a prepared statement, via the team’s website, before boarding a plane to L.A. to start trying to earn favor in the team’s new market.

In an interview with KNBC’s Fred Roggin on AM 570, Spanos outlined his thought process and how he landed on finally moving the Chargers to L.A.

“It was an emotional decision,” said Spanos, “but we’ve been working for 15 years to try and get something done in San Diego. This last year we had a big initiative and we were unsuccessful. We only got 43% of the vote. At the end of the day it was the right decision to make.”

The Chargers can claim they’ve worked for 15 years to try and get something done but the reality is they only actually put together a stadium proposal for the first time in 2015 (the unsuccessful Measure C that received that 43% vote).

As for the fan base they are leaving behind? The one that supported it for 55 years?

“We’re looking forward,” said Spanos. “We’re happy to be here. We’re excited to be here. My wife’s from here. My sons went to school here. We’ve been a part of L.A. in a small way for the last 40 years.”

When asked if the lack of stadium progress in San Diego led him to the point that moving to a facility in Los Angeles was the only remedy and that’s why he had to make the decision Spanos again went to the talking points.

“I didn’t have to do anything. I thought it was the right decision for a lot of different reasons. It was difficult but at the end of the day you’ve got to look forward.”

Spanos also talked about the new stadium that Stan Kroenke is building in Inglewood … the one where the Chargers will be renters … and said it is a great economic opportunity for them. He also acknowledged the team has an “uphill battle” when it comes to building a fan base in Los Angeles.

“I’m not expecting anything Day 1. I think this is going to take two or three years to really build up the respect of the fans. It’s a work in progress but come the opening of the stadium in 2019 we’ll be ready.”

They are off to a rocky start. The team’s new Los Angeles Chargers logo has been met with mostly negative reaction.

It was brought up to Spanos, who tried to be neutral.

"Yeah, I think I heard something about that. I don't know if this is going to be permanent or if it's going to be the introductory logo into the marketplace. My son is handling all that so I'd have to defer to him on all that."

Oh, and if you think they are going to rebrand and start fresh in their new home, you would be incorrect.

“We are heading in the direction definitively to be the Los Angeles Chargers.”

So he is taking the name from the city, too. Not the best of days for San Diego football fans.

A man pleaded guilty Thursday to the mysterious slayings of two brothers and a young woman in a mysterious case that has captivated San Diego for more than three years.

With his change of plea, Carlo Mercado, 31, admitted to personally using a firearm to kill brothers Salvatore “Sal” Belvedere, 22, and Gianni Belvedere, 24, and Gianni’s fiancée, Ilona Flint, 22.

Gianni was killed sometime between Dec. 23, 2013, and Jan. 17, 2014. Sal and Flint were gunned down in the parking lot of Westfield Mission Valley Mall on Christmas Eve 2013.

In February 2016, Mercado pleaded not guilty to the murders. Prior to his change of plea Thursday, Mercado's trial had been slated to begin on April 3.

A San Diego judge sealed Mercado’s fate Thursday with three consecutive sentences of life without parole – one for each murder victim – telling Mercado, “Sir, you will never get out of prison.”

Mercado stared blankly as the judge handed down the sentence, showing no emotion. Mercado has given up his right to appeal, the judge said.

When given an opportunity to address the families of the victims in court, Mercado glanced at his lawyers and said "No," that he had nothing to say.

San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Brian Erickson said the killings were nothing more than a random act of violence, likely sparked by road rage or a carjacking. He said the victims and Mercado did not know each other, which is why this case is so difficult to understand.

Erickson said the timeline of the killings went like this: On Dec. 23, 2013, Mercado was riding his motorcycle near Westfield Mission Valley mall when his motorcycle broke down. At this point, Mercado may have gotten into a road rage-type argument with Gianni over unknown circumstances.

Gianni was sitting in his car, parked at the mall that night because he was picking up Flint from work. Mercado saw Gianni in his car and walked up to him; he confronted Gianni and maybe tried to steal his car. Erickson said Mercado then shot and killed Gianni, while Gianni was on the phone with his cousin.

“The defendant wanted his car – walked up to it – does not know him, just outright shoots him, and takes his car,” the prosecutor explained. “After he shot him, [Mercado] pushed [Gianni’s] body over to the passenger’s seat where Gianni literally bled out in his own car.”

After that, with Gianni’s body in the car, Erickson said Mercado drove the car back toward his home in Mira Mesa. He stopped at a gas station and put gas in Gianni’s car. Erickson said Mercado’s DNA was later found on the gas cap of the victim’s car.

Later that night, Erickson said Mercado drove back to Westfield Mission Valley mall, likely to pick up his motorcycle which he knew connected him to the scene of Gianni’s murder.

At the time, Erickson said Mercado had no idea Sal and Flint were in the parking lot of the mall. They were there looking for Gianni, worried after Gianni had failed to pick Flint up from work that night as promised.

“They waited in that parking lot for Gianni, wondering where he was,” Erickson explained. “Calling hospitals; calling the jail – calling different places looking for him, in a panic.”

At that moment, Mercado pulled up to the parking lot in Gianni’s car. Sal and Flint saw the car, and thinking Gianni was driving, motioned for the vehicle to come close to them. Erickson said Flint quickly realized something was off – that it wasn’t Gianni in the car – and she dialed 911.

“[Flint thought] ‘It’s 1 a.m., my boyfriend is not here and somebody else just pulled up in his car,’” Erickson said. “And she calls 911 and Mr. Mercado doesn’t even give her a chance – he guns her down, shoots her in the back, shoots Salvatore.”

Erickson said Mercado used a .22-caliber gun to shoot Flint and Sal. The gun was equipped with a silencer, which is why the shooting wasn’t clearly heard on Flint’s call to 911.

Erickson said the victims were all simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and these random killings could’ve happened to anyone that night – no matter how difficult that concept may be for the community to grasp.

He said the victims were in no way at fault.

“Gianni, Salvatore and Ilona had nothing to do with their demise – had nothing to do with them being murdered,” Erickson said. “And I know people have a hard time accepting that because they think, ‘Oh, they must’ve done something.’ They didn’t. They didn’t do anything.”

“This could’ve been any one of us in that parking lot that night,” he added.

Sal and Gianni’s sister, Antoinette Belvedere, read a letter in court Thursday on behalf of her mother. The letter said the family’s lives have been forever changed by the murders of their loved ones.

“The unbearable pain is to stay, for all of these difficult and heartbreaking years – three years that feel like 30 – may God continue to grant me the grace and courage and strength to somehow endure,” Antoinette read from her mother’s letter.

The family of the victims brought photos of the Gianni, Sal and Ilona to court; the judge ordered Mercado to look at them.

After the killings, Erickson said Mercado put fake license plates on Gianni’s car and fled to Riverside. Gianni’s body was in the trunk of the car for three weeks. Mercado bought Febreze air freshener at the Target store where he worked in an attempt to cover up the stench of the body. At one point, he tried to sell the stolen vehicle.

On Jan. 17, 2014, police found Gianni’s badly decomposed body stuffed into the trunk of his own car parked at a shopping center in Riverside, California, more than 100 miles away from San Diego.

For five months, there was no break in the baffling triple homicide case. On June 20, 2014, Mercado was arrested as the suspect in slayings.

Thus began more than two-and-half years of legal proceedings involving Mercado -- including competency hearings, Mercado's pretrail in early September 2014 and his hospitalization in late July 2016 -- until his guilty plea on Thursday.

For a full timeline of this case, click here.

Keep those umbrellas handy!

It's been a wet week for San Diegans, but it's not over yet... 

Afternoon commuters will likely see some rain as they head home when a storm begins to sweep through the County. 

Heavier rain will make its way onto shore starting at 5 p.m. Thursday. Coastal cities will see the most intense rain from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., NBC 7 Meteorologist Whitney Southwick forecasted. 

East County communities will see heavy rain Thursday evening around 8 p.m., Southwick forecasted. 

The cells will drop a lot of rain in a short period of time, Southwick forecasted. 

The rain will continue on overnight into mid-morning Friday. 

Immediately after fans learned their hometown San Diego Chargers were dropping the "San Diego" from their title, some of them took out their anger and despair by throwing out their team memorabilia.

A large pile of posters, banners, hats, T-shirts and player jerseys grew in the hours after Chargers owner Dean Spanos made the announcement Thursday morning.

The news has created an interesting dilemma: Do you keep the San Diego Chargers gear or get rid of it?  Are you more loyal of a fan if you burn it or pack it away as a memento of better days?

A glance at some of the comments on NBC 7's Facebook page shows people are split.

Cheryl Wren Mercado refuses to get rid of anything. "This hurts, but being ugly about it, is lame," she said..

“I’m going to keep my jersey as a memory of happier days, shadow box it and leave it up as art,” Timothy Wazny posted.

That's just what Marvin Soonthorn said he's going to do. "I'm framing my Gates jersey in hopes I can get him to sign it one day," Soonthorn wrote.

Tonya Tee McKay suggested sending the clothing items to someone who may need it more, like the homeless. "Especially the hats and jackets!" she wrote.

Another fan, sees opportunity. "Sell it on EBay, don't burn it," said Carlos Julian Fernandez.

In fact, we saw more than a few inquiries from fans wanting to help the broken hearted by taking those player jerseys off their hands. There were more than a few requests for vintage collectibles.  

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Will it be worth something someday? A quick glance at the San Diego Clippers items for sale on eBay suggests San Diego Chargers gear will be valuable only for the memories.

Clipper hats described as vintage were priced between $10 and $30 while most unsigned jerseys were priced between $50 and $100.

“I will never buy anything from the LA Chargers but will also never get rid of any of my SD Chargers stuff,” said Bolts fan Eileen Keeter.

Her fellow fan Oscar Fahme agrees.

"I personally think it's stupid and disrespectful throwing out your Charger Gear," Fahme posted. "I mean, c'mon think about all the good times, with family and friends you had wearing SD charger gear. You don't have to wear it if you don't want to but at least save it for memories."

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MTV will be shooting a documentary at a local craft coffee shop owned by a former San Diego Chargers player this Friday -- and the coffee shop wants you to attend. 

The King’s Craft Coffee Co., located at 14530 Espola Rd. in Poway, is encouraging customers to stop by starting at 2 p.m. to attend the taping. 

The company announced the shoot in an elusive blog post on their site this week, with no additional information on the type of shoot happening Friday. 

In an effort to encourage people to attend, the coffee shop is having a special promotion from 2 p.m. to closing: buy any drink and get the second one 50 percent off. 

The coffee shop is owned by Former NFL offensive lineman for the Bolts, Cory Withrow, also formerly of the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. 

The venue boasts a roster of single-origin specialty coffees made from handcrafted, roasted beans, plus a menu featuring European pastries.

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The King’s Craft Coffee Co. is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. For more info, visit the coffee company’s website.

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A crucial piece of potential evidence - video that captured a former U.S. Navy Commander allegedly attempting to rape a colleague - was dismissed in court Thursday by a judge. The case was bound over for trial. 

Former Commander John M. Neuhart II, 39, now relieved of duty, is facing attempted forced rape, assault with intent to rape, hot prowl burglary and resisting arrest charges. His well-known attorney Kerry Armstrong previously entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Neuhart is out on bail. 

At the preliminary hearing Thursday, there was a long fight over a crucial piece of potential evidence: video on the defendant's cell phone that apparently captured the incident at the victim's home.

A judge ruled that the video, which had been recording for 41 minutes and apparently captured at least some of the incident, is not admissible because Neuhart gave officers the password for his Apple iPhone 6 after he had already obtained legal counsel. 

The incident took place Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 when San Diego police responded to a call of a sexual assault occurring in the city's Valencia Park neighborhood, SDPD Sex Crimes Lt. Paul Phillips said. 

Neuhart and the victim, both members of the Navy, met at a hotel downtown when the victim, with a group of friends, recognized Neuhart, according to Phillips. The group talked for a while until the victim left the bar to go home, with Neuhart going as well.

Neuhart allegedly followed the victim into her house, at which point he allegedly attempted to rape her. 

"The suspect immediately became forceful with her and attempted to sexually assault her," Phillips said.

The victim testified Thursday that Neuhart took off her pants without consent.

She testified that she pushed him out of her home, but prosecutors say Neuhart returned through the french doors on her back balcony. 

Neuhart told her to get a condom, then threw her against the stove and kitchen counter, the victim testified. She said her pit bull, Jax, bit Neuhart, in an attempt to protect her from the assault. 

As the victim fought off the suspect, she screamed loudly, Phillips said. A neighbor heard the screams and ran to the front of the house to ask if the victim was okay. When she answered no, the neighbor called 911 and said through the window that the police were on the way. 

Neuhart apparently heard the remark, Phillips said, and escaped through the back door. 

The neighbor flagged down police when they arrived and pointed out Neuhart, who was running down the street and into a nearby canyon. 

Officers apprehended Neuhart in the canyon and took him into custody. 

In court, defense attorney Armstrong claims the victim flirted and kissed the defendant and the sex was consensual after a night out drinking.

The former commander is married and has worked in the military for more than 15 years. Neuhart was the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, based at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam. 

A judge sent the case to trail on all counts Thursday. 

If convicted, he could face life in prison. 

The Chargers have a contract with the City of San Diego that runs through the 2020 season.

They have a four-month window that begins Feb. 1 and ends May 1 to opt out of the team’s lease at Qualcomm Stadium. If they end the least early, they will pay the City $12 million for the buyout, freeing the Chargers to play in Los Angeles next season.

That doesn't pay off the remaining bond debt that financed a stadium expansion.

On notice of termination, the team will also have to vacate the Murphy Canyon Practice facility.

The Chargers plan to conduct offseason training and minicamp at Chargers Park.

A spokesperson for the City told NBC 7 Thursday, the team would have to vacate by July 31, 2017.

JetBlue announced Wednesday that it will provide free high-speed Wi-Fi on all flights.

While most airlines require its aircraft to reach cruising altitude before making Wi-Fi connectivity available, JetBlue's latest on board enhancement will get passengers connect online from the departure gate to the arrival gate.

With its Fly-Fi internet system, passengers can watch free movies, stream content from Amazon Video, browse the web, and use messaging apps on their personal devices.

Frequent flyer members can also shop on Amazon.com while on board and earn three JetBlue TrueBlue points for each dollar spent on purchases.

The feature was first introduced back in December of 2013, but has since been installed on all of its fleet.

“It’s 2017 and our customers expect to be connected everywhere, whether that be from the comfort of their sofa or 35,000 feet above it,” said Jamie Perry, vice president of marketing

JetBlue is the only airline with free internet service for all passengers on every flight.

A Missing Person at Risk alert has been issued for 15-year-old Natalia Benito of San Diego, whom police say made statements indicating she wanted to harm herself prior to her disappearance.

The San Diego Police Department says that Benito was last seen at her home at 11000 Corte Belleza in the Carmel Country Highlands neighborhood at 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

Benito is described as a white female, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black sweatpants, but it is possible that she has since changed clothes.

Benito’s family is offering a $20,000 reward for any information that helps in returning her to them.

If you have information regarding Natalia Benito or her whereabouts, you can call SDPD at (619)531-2000. Police ask that you call 9-1-1 if you see her.

President-elect Donald Trump was informed about the existence of the unverified allegations against him about Russian ties after last Friday's intelligence briefing at Trump Tower on alleged Russian hacking, U.S. officials told NBC News.

A senior U.S. official said that it was FBI Director James Comey himself who pulled Trump aside after the briefing and spoke with him one-on-one about the so-called "dossier," 35 pages of memos prepared by a former British spy for an anti-Trump client prior to last year's election.

Trump was not told about the contents of the dossier during the formal briefing, as NBC has previously reported.

Chargers fans were hit with another bolt.

Following the official announcement by the Chargers making the move to Los Angeles, the team also announced season tickets for the 2017 season.

A video posted on the now Los Angeles Chargers Facebook page states:

"Place your refundable $100 depsoit today and get closer to the action than ever before.”

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The team will be playing at StubHub Center in Carson, which has the capacity to hold up to 30,000 fans. According to the Chargers website, current season ticket holders will not have to make a deposit.

An email was also sent out to Chargers season ticket holders.

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NBC 7 received an email from one Chargers fan that he sent to the team on Thursday in response to being asked to purchase season tickets to StubHub.

His response in part read:

"To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, I'm not leaving the Chargers. The Chargers have left me. I've put up with losing teams year after year. I've put up with suffering through crap coaches like Mike McCoy and Mike Riley and the firings of a 14-2 coach and a Super Bowl coach. I've put up with Ryan Leaf and seeing management jettison talent like Rodney Harrison and Junior Seau and Eric Weddle for no logical reason. I've put up with blown playoff games and constant heartbreak. And yet through all that I've stayed a fan of the San Diego Chargers because they are the team of my town- an iconic part of my identity as a San Diegan. That no longer exists and not even I will put up with this."

One San Diego Chargers fan was taken into custody after the fan set fire to a pile of memorabilia. 

Since news of the team's move to Los Angeles Thursday morning, Chargers' fans have expressed their disappointment by throwing away their team gear, right at the doorstep of team headquarters.

Fan frustration reached a boiling point just after 6 p.m. Thursday when one fan set a large pile of clothing - old jerseys, shirts and other gear - and watched it burn.

The fan was quickly taken into custody and the fire put out by security officials. 

The incident was captured on video. Warning: the video may contain adult language. 

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No further information was available. 

Two men snuck into an unincorporated El Cajon market by forcing their way in through a rooftop vent, stealing large amounts of cigarettes and lottery tickets, according to San Diego County Sheriff's officials (SDSO). 

The burglary happened between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on Sunday when two adult men broke into the Rainbow Farms Market, located at 1335 La Cresta Boulevard in unincorporated El Cajon. 

The men climbed up on the roof and removed a large vent on the rooftop, forcing their way into the building through the ceiling, Sergeant Chris Galve said. The men climbed down inside the market. 

The men stole a large quantity of cigarettes and lottery tickets, Galve said. Deputies later learned the men cashed the lottery tickets at multiple locations throughout San Diego's East County. 

Once they burglarized the market, the man climbed back out of the building and fled before deputies arrived. 

Deputies examined surveillance camera footage of the incident and identified the burglars, Galve said. 

Lakeside residents Everett Luther and Travis Murry were later taken into custody for the burglaries. Murry had two outstanding felony warrants on unrelated burglary charges. 

A U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander was sentenced to more than two years years in prison in federal court on Thursday.

Gentry Debord, 41, plead guilty in October 2016 to accepting bribes in the form of cash, luxury hotels and prostitutes from Leonard Glenn Francis, also known as “Fat” Leonard.

Debord was sentenced to 30 months in prison, ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and $37,000 in restitution to the U.S. Navy.

Francis, a foreign defense contractor for Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), plead guilty in January 2015 to bribing senior naval officials in exchange for specific Navy warship movements so his company could overbill the Pentagon.

According to Debord’s plea agreement, he gave Francis proprietary Navy information that benefited GDMA in return for the bribes. He also asked Francis and his company to inflate invoices sent to the Navy for services that were not given.

The fraud occurred from November 2007 to January 2013, while Debord was a supply officer aboard the U.S.S. Essex.

Debord also used code language and fake email accounts to cover up the fraud.

Sixteen individuals have been charged in the case so far, 11 of whom are current or former U.S. Navy officials, including Debord.

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Rear Admiral Robert J. Gilbeau is the highest-ranking U.S. Navy officer to have been charged in the case so far. He pleaded guilty to one felony charge in June 2016.

Gilbeau is also believed to be the first active-duty Naval flag officer to ever be charged in a federal criminal court, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's office in San Diego. He is still awaiting his sentence.

NBC 7 has been following this investigation since September 2013.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer gave the State of the City address Thursday, just after the Chargers announced their move to Los Angeles.

But he did not use much of his one-hour long speech to discuss the hot-button issue. Instead he focused on what's to come.

Faulconer committed to a waterfront convention center expansion, solving what he calls the "homeless emergency", and creating more affordable housing.

It is an aggressive agenda for a budget that is expected to include city department cuts.

He stated that he is planning to draw new revenue from an old source.

San Diego's homeless population spiked last year, jumping 19 percent higher than in 2015.

In Thursday's address, Faulconer committed to fast tracking services and finding beds for the homeless community.

“We'll start restoring the homeless funding we lost and put more revenue behind efforts to house San Diego's homeless,” he said.

The Mayor proposed a housing affordability movement for middle and lower income renters wanting to own homes.

“We are going to slash permit times and allow more market rate houses to be built,” Mayor Faulconer said.

Without the Chargers new stadium, proposals are off the drawing board but expanding the Convention Center, once coupled with a Downtown stadium plan, is still part of the waterfront makeover.

A recent budget analysis report indicated the City's pension costs could lead to deficits. Faulconer said he'll propose a hotel tax to generate new revenue.

“I will ask voters to increase lodging revenue from tourists so we can finally fund the waterfront expansion,” Mayor Faulconer said.

Councilman David Alvarez, for Dist. 8, often at odds with Faulconer, is not optimistic.

“All of those require a two thirds vote. That is a huge line to cross as we saw this year with a couple of initiatives,” Alvarez said.

The departure of the Chargers leaves open potential money making opportunities with Qualcomm stadium.

Councilman Scott Sherman, Dist. 7, said he likes the idea of a new NFL franchise, like the Raiders.

“If the Raiders were to be here in San Diego, they would own the southern California and California market,” Sherman said.

Both detached and contiguous convention center expansion plans were proposed last year.

Mayor Faulconer is throwing his support behind a plan that builds on to the existing structure along the waterfront.

Homicide detectives are investigating after a woman's body was found near a road in unincorporated Escondido Thursday afternoon.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO), a nearby resident discovered the body around 2 p.m. in an embankment off the 27,600 block of Champagne Boulevard.

It is unknown if the woman suffered any injuries.

An investigation is ongoing, SDSO said.

She is beleived to be in her 30s.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

A suspect wanted in connection to two armed robberies near an ATM in Vista was arrested on Thursday, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) confirmed.

The 37-year old man was arrested around 1:30 p.m.

He was wanted for two separate armed robberies on Jan. 10 and 11 near the Bank of America ATM on Bobier Drive in Vista.

According to SDSO, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, the suspect approached the victim and demanded money at gunpoint. He then ran away towards the Vista Royal Lodge trailer park near the bank ATM.

SDSO said he had been carrying a black semi-automatic handgun, similar to a Glock.

He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on two counts of robbery and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

One person suffered an injury after being shot in the leg in El Cajon Thursday night, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) confirmed.

The incident occurred around 10:20 p.m. on the 10,100 block of Valle De Paz Road in unincorporated El Cajon.

Heartland Fire officials told NBC 7, one person had a gunshot wound in the leg. 

It is unknown what led to the shooting.

SDSO is investigating

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

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Donald Trump's inauguration is still a week away, but opposing the president-elect is good politics for any ambitious Democrat with eyes on a White House bid, NBC News reported.

That could be why some of the most outspoken opposition to Trump's cabinet appointees during this week's confirmation hearings has come from Democrats widely seen as potential presidential contenders four years from now. For the next four years, those politicians will be in competition with each other for the hearts, minds and dollars of angry liberals eager for anti-Trump champions.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker was the most brazen in using the confirmation hearings to raise his personal profile, breaking precedent to become the first senator in history testify against a fellow member of the chamber. He was swarmed by reporters as he left the hearing room where he spoke out against Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for Attorney General.

But other up-and-coming senators often mentioned in Democrats' 2020 fantasy draft picks leveraged the spotlight on their committees' hearings to press their issues and demonstrate their rhetorical chops.