CALLING THE SHOTS:

This is not so much of a sports story.

It’s not about a game.

This story is about two “rival” coaches coming together for one common purpose. Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball coach Steve Conti and Newport Harbor’s head man Dan Glenn are also asking for the community to come together and help a family.

They want you to help my friend, my former boss Richard Dunn and his family.

The boys’ volleyball teams of Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar will be uniting to support the Julian Dunn Cancer Fund in the Battle of the Bay May 8 at 6:30 p.m at CdM. All the money from the match’s gate will go to the cause, as will proceeds from a raffle and auction.

Richard Dunn, Rich as I call him, has two sons. Julian is the youngest, a 5-year-old who was diagnosed with a brain tumor just a few weeks before this past Christmas. He has an about 85% chance of survival after having gone through three surgeries and an intense seven-week hospital stay.

Next week, Julian is scheduled to begin a round of chemotherapy, which could affect his hearing and kidney function. Rich probably won’t go to the volleyball match May 8.

He’s had to put a lot of things in his life on hold. Family has always come first for Rich, who worked at this newspaper for a quarter of a century, serving as a sports reporter, and the sports editor during some of that time.

I always knew Rich would become a good father. Before his oldest son, Nolan, was born Rich would tell me stories with excitement of how he played classical music and read grand literature to his baby boy, who at the time was still in his wife’s womb.

Rich would also talk about how he was going to love to coach his sons in Little League.

You could easily tell Rich loved his boys, which is why it’s been so difficult for him to watch Julian go through chemotherapy and surgeries during the past five-plus months. But at the same time, Rich has found a hero.

“His spirit and attitude is an inspiration to me,” Rich said of Julian. “It’s so hard for me to see him go through the pain. But it’s unbelievable how he can be. I’m the one who is blubbering and crying. He’s the one who is asking the questions to the doctors.”

While in the newspaper business, including his time at the Daily Pilot, Rich always did his best to remain objective, which is why it was a bit difficult to accept the Back Bay coaches’ generous act. As a community sports writer, Rich also did his best to write in the interest of the young athletes.

When he was first approached about the idea of the Battle of the Bay being played to raise money for his family, Rich was taken aback.

“He was really appreciative of the idea,” Conti said of Rich. “He mainly wanted to talk to his wife and made sure they were comfortable with doing it. It just shows what a humble person he is.”

Both Conti and Glenn have children and can identify with loving their own, another reason they wanted to help Rich.

Donations can also be made before or after the event, and those interested in supplying auction items should contact Conti at Corona del Mar High. Send checks to: Julian Dunn Cancer Fund, c/o Corona del Mar High, Attention: Steve Conti, 2101 Eastbluff Road, Newport Beach, CA, 92660

“‘Thanks for thinking about me,’ that’s how I feel,” Rich said. “These things help a lot. It makes me feel that I’m not alone and that’s awesome.”

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].