Raider Nation comes ashore at Newport

ROGER CARLSON

Andre Sommersell, the one that got away at Estancia High, has arrived

and left, and arrived and left, again, and Irrelevant Week XXIX is

but another folder to stash away.

Everyone was kind of scratching their heads when this all began

when Newport Beach’s Paul Salata started it all with was seemed to be

a far-fetched attempt to bring the National Football League to

Newport Beach, since the two entities have nothing else in common.

That it has endured, and flourished, over all this time is a

testament to the magnetism that Salata possesses. Who else could have

pulled off something like this?

Monday’s performance at the Arrival Party was typical of his

production with daughter Melanie Fitch, complete in her official

director’s garb -- a jump suit, headset and running shoes -- at the

controls.

In something like 20 minutes they managed to deliver some 150

gifts to Sommersell, perched on a lifeguard stand, and there was

never a dull moment.

Not even the sight and noise of the Raider Nation’s female

motorcyclist mixing with the Fountain Valley High coaching staff in

“the back of the room” on the beach of Newport Dunes could upset the

cadence of chatter and deliverance of Salata at the podium.

Earlier the Raiders’ representatives of “Violator” and “Spike”

managed to offer various advice for Sommersell with the typical

Raiders-like growls. The most amusing aspect of it all was that

Violator and Spike were dead serious about all this.

I found myself appreciating the gathering most when Sommersell,

who had transferred from Estancia to Fountain Valley High after his

sophomore year, offered his first comments, which included a thank

you to his coach at Fountain Valley, a veteran sort named George

Berg.

Salata kept the crowd, and Andre’s mother, Gloria Felix, in a

constant state of laughter.

Sommersell, who has a brother who was considered to be one of

Estancia’s best-ever on the football field not too many seasons ago,

Chris Felix, picked up a tidy $21.92 on Friday, the interest from

being a “Millionaire for a Day,” at Northern Trust Bank.

It was but one aspect of the “Impromptu Doo-dah” parade that oozed

out of Muldoons in Fashion Island before ESPN and KCAL television.

Irrelevant Week officials explained the parade as a “simultaneous

movement.”

Today the 24-year-old is on his way in the world of Raiderland and

one can presume peace and tranquility has returned.

Come April 24 in 2005 the NFL will do it all again with its

college draft and we’ll find out who will be Mr. Irrelevant XXX.

You have to wonder what Salata and his band of knaves will do with

that.

*

Randy Farr, one of Jeff Brinkley’s first products at Newport

Harbor High in 1987 and ‘88, turned some eyes and ears in Las Vegas,

recently, and it had nothing to do with poker or blackjack.

A fireman/paramedic, he was awarded the city’s highest honor, the

medal of honor.

Farr, 35, was a member of a crew which answered a call to a sports

utility vehicle rollover accident.

The beleaguered(?) motorist fired a shot at Farr as he entered the

vehicle and the former Sailor first warned his crew of the weapon,

then wrestled the gun out of the motorist’s hand, slamming his hand

against the windshield to knock it loose before completing the

rescue.

He is the son of Gary and Jackie Farr.

Gary retired after 34 years at Valencia (six years) and Edison

High (28 years) and is still a substitute teacher. He was one of Bill

Workman assistants at Edison in the 1973-85 era before the latter

moved on to Orange Coast College.

*

Estancia High basketball fans will be glad to know former girls

coach Tami Rappa has signed on as the varsity coach at Serra High, a

small parochial school in the San Juan Capistrano area.

Rappa, to the dismay of her players and their families, was fired

after two seasons at Estancia recently despite the support she seemed

to command from all corners, except the administration.

She was accused of “running up the score” with a couple of

20-point victories over crosstown rival Costa Mesa, and was a very

dedicated and no-nonsense mentor.

What a difference she will most assuredly find this fall at Serra

where athletics, specifically excellence in athletics, is

appreciated.

We’ll get back to Tami in mid-December with an in-depth update.

Hey! See you next Sunday!

* ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot.

His column appears on Sundays. He can be reached by e-mail at

[email protected].