Some Put Athletics in Perspective

The annual I-Know-What-This-Is-All-About Award winners, or five people who make you feel good about high school sports. The envelopes please.

5. John Flynn, best musical score by a Mater Dei athlete.

The Deadhead quarterback is the model of persistence and perspective. Los Alamitos had him beaten in the Division I semifinal this year, but Flynn tossed a touchdown pass and kept on truckin’. He knocked off top-seeded La Puente Bishop Amat the next week. But what got him really excited? Why the Grateful Dead concert a few nights later, proving there is life after football.

Film clip: Took summer vacation to Oregon. To see the Ducks? Nope, another Grateful Dead concert. The kid is definitely “on the bus.”

4. Vince Silva, best self-sacrificing role.

A private investigator who spends his free time as an Santa Ana assistant wrestling coach. No, his specialty isn’t the Mike Hammer hold. This guy knows his stuff. He was a walk on at Oklahoma State, where he became a two-time All-American at 158 pounds. He took the Santa Ana case two years ago. What’s he get in return? Zip. Heck, even Rockford got $100 a day, plus expenses.

Film clip--Cut surveillance duty short so he could make it to a Saints’ match. Got there faster than Cannon heading for the buffet.

3. Nick Contois, best supporting and inspirational fan.

The Esperanza freshman has never played football, never will. But his influence on the Aztec team was substantial. Contois, who has cerebral palsy, adopted the football team. He cruised the sideline in his wheelchair, wearing his 00 jersey. He timed drills in practice and computed the team’s stats. Players gravitated to him.

Film clip--No fewer than six JV players formed an entourage for Contois during the varsity’s Long Beach Poly game. Where he went, they went. Not since Little Buddha has there been such devotion.

2. Goldie Yavari, best glass-is-half-full adaptation.

The Los Alamitos senior didn’t want to rock the boat, she just wanted a seat by the oar. She worked hard and made the Los Alamitos wrestling team last season. This year, she was 5-6 on the junior varsity and is now the varsity’s 103-pound wrestler. There have been comments by opposing male wrestlers, sure. They just fall on deaf ears. Said Yavari: “You’ve got to see what you really want to do in life, so you can’t listen to the negative things.”

Film clip--Opposing JV team forfeited 103 match so its wrestler wouldn’t be embarrassed by Yavari. So she wrestled at 119 and lost by a mere two points. Her response? “I could have taken the forfeit, but it was more fun to wrestle.” Fun, what a concept.

1. Mike Marrujo, best performance by a coach with his head screwed on right.

The Valencia football coach with the chiseled-from-stone personality was downright animated this past season. Why? His team forfeited two victories and a tie after a transfer student was ruled ineligible. Marrujo’s concern? Well, it wasn’t about losing those games. He was worried the perception might be that he was using undue influence to attract players.

Film clip--A Valencia quarterback walked off the field yelling at his linemen after being sacked. In a calm, but stern, voice, Marrujo said: “Stop that.” The kid clammed up so tight you’d thought he might spit cultured pearls. That kind of influence is far from being undue.

And, finally, the Julius Erving G. Thalberg Award goes to San Clemente Athletic Director Brian Scherbart. Recently, an unruly fan was asked to leave a Triton basketball game. The fan refused, claiming he’d paid his $4 and could do what he pleased. Scherbart reached into his wallet, handed the guy $4 and told him to have a nice evening.

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