Dr. Dan's Forty-Niner Diamond
Dust
College Sport's most infamous and misspelled Newsletter, a favorite with fans of all ages, banned (proudly) in Fullerton, not real popular in Fresno, traded on the Austin, Texas BBQ and LSU Gumbo exchanges, in cyber space at www.longbeachstate.com and now for sale, on a very regular basis, with your game rosters, coffee, hats, red vines and other fine goods.
TUNING UP THE AMAZING SNOW MACHINE, BUT I KINDA LIKE THE POWER SUPPLY
Baseball is a great team game. You win with a lot of execution, attention to detail, some might call it Snow Ball. Not a bad analogy for life, but having said all that , pull your chair a little closer to the hot stove and let's chat about Jaeme Leal.
Of course it's early, and of course the amazing Snow Machine a.k.a. Dirtbag baseball is under going its' usual early spring test drives. Change a part here, adjust the fuel and carburetors, tighten and loosen the lug bolts. But psssst, just between us this big bopper from Riverside is for real and if you don't believe me ask the PAC 9, or at least USC and California.
Exhibit A: Six home runs in nine games, humm, multiply and divide by 56 games and, and that's a whole bunch. Exhibit B: the smiling first baseman hit .583 (7-12) in the three games last weekend vs. USC with six runs scored, two home runs and eight RBI. On Sunday he hit a monster three-run home run in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 3-3. He was 2-4 with four RBI in the game. He recorded three hits in Saturday's game and on Friday launched a foul ball that made the boys on the 14th green at Big Rec pull the flag.. He has a team-high five multiple-hit games in the nine outings this season.
Exhibit C: JL is hitting .417 (15-36),and is just second on the team, demonstrating political correctness staying behind his captain Terrmel Sledge who's hitting .419 and leads the Dirtbags with 12 runs scored. Exhibit D: Leal now has driven in 15 runs and after beginning the season 2-9 at the plate in the first three games, is batting.481 in his last six outings. In the three games at Berkeley the big fella hit .400 (6-15) with four homers, four runs scored and seven RBI. Exhibit E: You have to pitch to the guys in front of him because, well your honor, the offense never rests.
TUNE-UP DUST-Now remember we did say that these 6th ranked 49ers are still fiddling with the knobs and gears. One major area for a performance check (or we all will need heart pills), is the twilight zone called "The Ninth Inning." The Beach boys are being outscored 13-4 in the ninth inning this year, but have only lost one game when leading going into the ninth (the season opener vs. Baylor, where two runs scored to give the Bears a 3-2 victory).
Just helping my pals dept. I've been worried about how UC Irvine, already baseball and football less, can save basketball. Stuck on just five wins this year, I suggest they schedule home and home with similarly suffering teams, i.e. Baylor (6-21), Lehigh (5-21) and Chicago State (3-23). Prairie View has gotten too tough.
And add to your Pulitzer nominees Andy Read of LBSU volleyball who describes the scene of the Beach's marvelous comeback against USC as follows. "USC's North Gym it only slightly bigger than a bread box. Add to it a couple of small bleachers, the SC Band (known for its obnoxious and loud support of the home team) and you have the stage set for hand to hand fighting on a volleyball court at close quarters." I am glad to report no battlefield casualties and the Niners remain unbeaten, unbowed and with no peanut butter or jelly sticking to their uni's from life in the bread box.
Last Add Niner Notes. The home finale for the men's hoop team is Saturday at 7 against Pacific with an off-to-Reno BBQ Monday in the Grand Banquet Center on Willow. You can save a space by calling 985-4662 . The Beach basket-women finish at home against Idaho on Thursday and the softball bunch tangles with UCLA at 1 p.m. on Sunday. And that's all I know for sure.-DR. DAN
HEAVYWEIGHTS SPLIT FIRST 2 ROUNDS AS 49ERS GO FOR THE SERIES
On the outside it was a very pleasant day. Sunny, a sparkling green diamond nestled inside very-welcome wrought iron walls. Players, a nearly in-tune pep band, and darned fine chicken sausage sandwiches.
I picked a spot behind a very gentile and soon to be well-traveled couple, Ted and Jackie Ward. Normally a good seat, not too high, nice sun, and Jackie keeping a pro level scorebook (including balls and strikes) right in front of me. My lone regret is that this was no day to sit near the family of a pitcher, at least during the first three innings. To their credit the Wards, who now have flown from Rocky Mount, NC to LB twice, never said more than "come on guys." But inside they, and the parents of USC's Rik Currier and Peter Montrenes (who combined to give up ten earned runs in their three frames), had to be hurting. But like us all, the Wards, who have five more round trip tickets in the desk drawer, know that it's early and really truly, baseball is fun.
And now from the niceties to the numbers. In round two of this best of three Earthquake City Death Match, the black hats wound up on top largely because more of their swings (four in all, two by Munson) went over the fence. The Dirtbags had leads of 6-5, 10-7, 12-11 but the red and gold (4-7) made more comebacks then Freddy Krueger and with a similar bloody result, 16-12. The Dirtbags (4-4) will send Jason Berni against UCSB deserter Justin Lehr, who moves over from first base where he was 4-10 as a hitter. Jaeme Leal is 5-8 with 4 rbi's agin the Trojans. Bobby Crosby and Terrmel Sledge, both 4-8, have also been steady in the series. A very modest, compared to Blair, crowd of 1,064 took in the contest. So much for momentum from an NCAA title.
MIDNIGHT DUST--And now the rest of the story. As you know the Niner men volleyballed their way to a 3-2 victory at USC yesterday, a couple hundred tire spike entry ways from the baseball diamond. What you may not know is that skipper Ray Ratelle and staff were ecstatic with the comeback from down 0-2 to win three straight over the cross-towners and remain unbeaten at 9-0. Also on the plus side of the Saturday scoreboard was 49er softball who beat Iowa State 4-2 in the San Diego classic. They play the host Aztecs right about now. Last add Ward family, they have those coveted ACC basketball tourney tickets but will only use the first round so they can be computer-side for the Niners/Arkansas series. Jeremy's brother will get the rest of the ducats. 49er Athletic Association board member Don Mooshagian's cousin Steve will be the wide receiver coach for the Cincinnati Bengals next season, but that don't help us much with no NFL in LA. It's just a sneaky way to mention that the annual fund drive is right around the corner. Fan mail from John Quinlan, the greatest college baseball voice in the land, including Fresno. Reminded of Jim Healy in Friday's Dust he emails, "Thanks for the latest Diamond Dust!!! I loved listening to Healey. "Ah, Yeah", I've seen more pushing and shoving in the Men's Room", Madame Ram etc. Thanks for the memories." And JQ, who's Mom lives near the campus, would be a superb hire for any area media outlet. He also offers a Healy era trivia question? Who was the broadcaster who asked Lasorda the Infamous Question that led to his outburtst? Answer: Paul Olden (Voice of the Angels, Indians, Devil Rays (current) and the PA for the Super Bowl). Olden attended L.A. City College and was working as an intern for Healey when he asked the question. And now you know the rest of the rest of the story---DR. DAN
THIS EVENING'S ATHLETICS FEATURE POLITICALLY-CORRECT TEAMS
Everybody over 30 in LA used to have this 5:30 p.m. daily ritual, Jim Healy Sports and his infamous tape recordings. One of my favorites was of Tom Lasorda, the usually never at a loss for words Dodger skipper. Something like "this job ain't that (X5S4Z3!*8#) easy.!" Tell me about it.
In the old days writing pre-game Dust for SC and the Dirtbags was blankety-blank easy. But the times have changed. As you know the media managers of SoCal put your editor on double-super-secret probation, effectively banning references to 'boys of troy", charrddonay-sipping-quiche-eating-trojans , or first base coaching. I thought I had a lead when the pre-season polls placed the squads, who never met in last years CWS, ranked one and two. But SC wobbles in at 3-6 and 6-5 losers to Cal State Who (that would be CSUF for rookies) and ranked 6, 11, and 12. And the Beach, dizzy from a 24 run outburst over Cal last Friday, strangely frozen by Saturday's eighth inning earthquake at Evans Diamond, dropped the final two, arriving in an ugly mood at 3-3 and 7,10 and 14 in the polls. Wet hornets rumble? Can you hear Aretha humming R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
The visitors add to our odd evening by featuring a trio of seemingly normal young men who actually left Santa Barbara, blue waters and white sands, for a, er, ah, (see it' ain't easy) for a central city citadel of learning. That would be pitchers Barry Zito and Justin Lehr, plus third baseperson Justin Gemoll. Mike Gallo,) (1-0, 2.19 and never at UCSB) will toe it up for the Niners against Mr. Zito (1-1, 2.40) this evening. That of course is after the lovely and talented and all universe Long Beach State NCAA never beaten, etc. volleyball team makes the first 14 pitches (possibly all curves). It could be a good omen, the Niner ladies beat the Women of Troy in the opening weekend of the v-ball campaign and never looked back. And finally, although Blair rarely gives up the long ball, there is the side show of home run sluggers Jaeme Leal (three in one game Friday) vs. Eric Munson of the other guys. No truth to the rumor that, like Mark McGuire, SC wanted him as a pitcher.
WAITNG FOR THE WORM DUST-add to the MIA list tonight, ex-Wilson slugger Sean Burroughs, who was ticketed to Troy before the prospects of facing our own mighty Bruin, Josh Alliston sent him on a bus to San Diego, albeit with a lot of tokens. Saturday we move to USC at 1 p.m. with Jeremy Ward (0-0, 4.09) vs.Rik Currier (1-1, 7.20) and then back here for another 1,000 free wardrobes for a match between righties Jason Berni (0-0, 3.00) and ex Gaucho catcher Justin Lehr (0-1, 4.76). Mixing our media, I wasn't able to get a line on what ex Trojan hoop hero Robert Pack did last night but wasn't it nice that Bryon Russell led the Utah Jazz with 21 as they moved out to 7-1 in the short season NBA league. Just wondering, ain't it odd that after two years and just 5 wins this season the media still wants to canonize Irvine baskets coach Pat Douglass and cannabolize, with 11 wins, the local guy. Which reminds me to remind you that after the bases at SC their is a 4 p.m. first whistle in the Trojan North Gym for Niner vs. SC men's volleyball before you race back for the 5:05 tip of LBSU-CSUF hoops and then the post game homecoming hanging of the volleyball banner. And that's all I'm hanging-DR. DAN
February 8, 1999
FUN AND GAMES WHILE WAITING FOR JERRY SPRINGER
Sometimes I think sports fans thrive on the uncertainty that comes from fun and games. Wasn't that Dr. Kervorkian making hospital rounds? Is the 60 Minutes film crew really
in your waiting room? Jerry Springer says his guest has a secret to tell you.
Welcome to Forty-ninervile where the unexpected is expected. Last week for
example our man in the Snow-castle invited Baylor over for a three game affair and took a lead
into the ninth inning every game. And had the guests beat him once and tie him twice before the
homeboys finally prevailed taking ther series 2-1.
Professor Morgan of Hoop U needed a miracle three in the final three (seconds) to
beat UCSB and then toys with Cal Poly SLO leading by 30 midway in the final half. Dallas
Boyhuk and crew had a similar weekend, taking the powerful Gaucho ladies to the wire (where
Santa Barabara averages a 30 point win) and then romping themselves at SLO. The lady Niners
await UCSB in the Pyramid (where the Beach is unbeaten) on Friday while the fellows hit the
road toUCSB Thursday and SLO on Saturday.
ENDLESS DUST-- Back to the bases, the baseball boys are at Cal this weekend hoping to
find their bull pen . The Dirtbags are #4 in Collegiate Baseball and #3 in Baseball America while
next weekends' visitor, the Boys of Troy from USC, dropped from #3 to #9 in the polls after
being swept deep in the heart of Texas. Fullerton U (#17) also had the stumbles losing two of
three to Stanford down at Titan Field.
Former 49er volleyball star, Tom Hoff, is now a USA National Team Player and was
picked by the USA leaders to receive the 1998 Coaches Award. "The coaching staff felt he was a
candidate for MVP; probably our No. 1 middle blocker during the year," Hoffy would come in
handy Saturday night when unbeaten and always frisky Pepperdine visits the Mid. Last year the
two teams went five games, three hours, and all the Rolaids Ray Ratelle could swallow.
In the stands at Blair over the weekend, all the city brass plus a Cy Young award winner.
With mixed emotions. That would be former Houston Astro great Mike Scott who's nephew
Tim Falsken, with expecting bride on hand, played for the Beach a while back. But Mike and the
clan were there to watch and root for another nephew, Baylor's Josh Scott. He would be long
gone before the Niners prevailed in the bottom of the 11th behind the clutch hitting of impressive
newcomer Jeff Jones who was 3-5 on the day with three RBI while A.J. LaBarbera and Greg
Dobbs both had two hits. Darren Merrill (1-0) picked up the win and is 8-0 in his 49er career.
On Sunday Terrmel Sledge's lead-off home run to right field proved to be the difference.
Shortstop Bobby Crosby was 2-3 with an RBI, stolen base and a run scored and left fielder Chris
Wright was 2-4. Starters Gallo, Ward and Paz were generally effective, particulary with strike
outs, but it may be too early to end the auditions for a quality closer.--DR. DAN
February 1, 1999
YOU CAN CALL IT TWO VERSUS TWENTY-TWO BUT AIN'T IT GREAT TO PLAY
BALL
The word from the number two ranked Dirtbags first baseball visitor of the season is
that Baylor coach Steve Smith keeps a hardhat in his office. It allows him to survey the
construction
of the new baseball stadium, (it's a three million dollar on campus deal) with great potential,
much
like the #22 ranked Bears out of the Big 12 Conference.
The Baylor baseball team that opens the 1999 LB schedule features an experienced
nucleus
and some talented newcomers who made an NCAA tourney visit last year. Like everybody in
college
ball, Baylor lost a bunch of stars but the coach says "I think we've got more pitching depth than
we've
ever had." The pollsters certainly agree.
Baylor will lead with a unique two way guy Jason Jennings (RHP,11-4, 5.08) who
tangles with the Dirtbags irrepressible World Series media darling, Mike Gallo (LHP, 6-2, 3.41).
Saturday's mound work will feature righty Jeremy Ward, 10-9, 4.57 last year at Wake Forest and
strong six innings of three hit ball beating the Pro Alums 5-1 last Saturday. Chad Hawkins
(RHP,
Navarro JC) will go for Baylor. On Sunday Coach Snow (410-217-4 at the Beach) will decide
between
a still sore armed Jason Berni (5-5, 4.91) or freshmen star Matt Paz, a hard throwing righty out of
Stockton. Bear lefty Josh Scott (3-1, 2.50) will twirl for the Baylor.
Mr. Jennings, one of the best two-way players in the country, will be the ace of
Baylor's pitching staff. The junior right-hander was named first-team All-America by the
National
Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as a utility player after finishing 11-4 with a 5.08 ERA
and
hitting .327 with 18 homers and 58 RBIs. He beat Florida in NCAA regional play in Gainesville
last
June.
MISSING DUST--Where are they now dept.--Rudy Rodriquez is still twirling his tooth
pick
coaching at American River J.C. in Sacramento, his hometown. He and the misses had a baby in
November. And in the grow your own department Coach Jon Strauss and his bride are in the
family
way with plenty of free advice from Mrs. Coach Loretta Yogi, a veteran of many months of all
night
rocking. Dodger pitching guru Charlie Hough had kind words to say about the live arm of Matt
Montgomery and the Blue Crew will also watch Casey Snow at the big league camp. Seven
current
Dirtbags had hits against the Pro pitchers, including hot wood work by RF Jeff Jones (4-4) and
catcher Bryan Kennedy (3-4). Ward was long and strong, 98 pitches, and Russ Rohlicek set em
up
for two frames before Casey Olenberger closed.
Last add Baggin. Today's tricky trivia: what Dirtbag was drafted in the first round of three
major league drafts? Third base coach Mike Weathers, a first round pick out of Chapman in 1971
and
then twice again in expansion drafts(1976).
And while you are making your weekend plans for hoops (UCSB and SLO) and diamonds,
don't forget Stanford visits men's volleyball. The Beach is still perfect and has long stretches of
perfect
passing by Jim Polster and Curtis Jackson which allows Chris Seiffert, off the DL, to run his
offense
at will. The first whistle is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, allowing time to go to the Dirtbag Pre-Game
BBQ,
dedicate the scoreboard, watch an inning and then run around all night---DR. DAN
January 25, 1999
HOT TIMES DURING THE COLD TIMES FOR OLD TIMERS
The boys of summer are poised on the dugout steps.
As their clever season ticket brochure proclaims, it's just baseball and
Omaha is just another town. Don't try and tell Dave Snow and his
Dirtbags that it's winter, even if the NBA hasn't even reported to work
yet and it will be a month or three before you'll see sun-screen in the
stores.
Fresh on the heels of a celebratory Leadoff Dinner, the 1999 heirs to a
ten year run of grit and glory will sprint into their new and improved
living room, aka Blair Field, Saturday afternoon. Some fancy chair back
seats will make the paying guests more comfortable and at least for this
game the visitors will get a sincere and warm welcome including their
name in ten foot high letters on an impressive new scoreboard.
After all these folks are the pro alums of Snowman University and in the
past the lineup card has included a trio of super stars, slugger Jason
Giambi of the Oakland A's, All Star pitcher Steve Trachsel of the
Chicago Cubs,, and San Diego Padre Chris Gomez, one of the more
successful hitters during the Pad's 1998 World Series. Not sure if this
trio will be in town but among the old kids on the block likely to play
are Jason Knupfer, Kirk Pierce, Casey Snow, Eric Martins, Scott Rivette,
Toby Sanchez, Ara Petrosian, Gabe Gonzalez, and maybe, just
maybe,ageless Don Barbara. Phillies hopeful Ryan Brannan will attend
but not toss.
And if you are a follower of those pre-season polls you know that the
new kids are not all really new, and that blend of Omaha style
experience and some potentially impressive imports, has the Beach boys
ranked 2, 5, and 9 in the early balloting. But the guy with #18 on his
jersey and the red bandanna snug in his right hip pocket doesn't take
much stock in the psychic hotlines of scouts and sportswriters. Dave
Snow knows that he faces a murderers row of opponents well before Tuffy
Titan lumbers into town.
First their is pitching rich Baylor next weekend, the #22 preseason
choice, then on the road to one of five national champs on the card, the
Cal Bears in Strawberry canyon. Need more then sprinkle in a little of
last years NCAA champion and pre-season #1 USC, #18 Arkansas, #34 LMU,
#16 UCLA, another #1 Wichita State, ex NCAA king Pepperdine then the Big
West tests before a season ending finale visit with that perennial Omaha
weather system, the Miami Hurricanes. Whew.
So it's time to walk the walk. That clever countdown calendar that 49er
marketing whiz John Costello put out last summer is now shorter than a
Denver Bronco pass route. So as the only guy I like in Reno (Judge
Mills Lane) often says, "let's get it on."
LEFTOVER DUST-The UCI Anteater brass gave away (and fed) the house last
Saturday to try and give Pat Douglass the edge against the Niner
hoopsters. The 3,700 was a nice number, but the final tally of 66-65
left the Eaters a point and a half shy. The crowd was the biggest home
count in recent memory but UCI is still stuck on 5 W's with six of their
next ten on the road.
And it is quite possible that the host Nevada Wolfpack gents (now 0-6)
won't make the BWC tourney at all. My guess is that LB will beat Utah
State in the quarters then have to go through New Mexico State and
tonight's visitors, Boise State for the ticket to the NCAA big dance.
And last add dancing, most of the Niner volleyball family are breathing
easier now that All American Veronica Walls did come back from a long
visit to the Lone Star State. Some feared she might linger that way
and play elsewhere next year but she's back and will join the lengthy
banquet circuit and then spring practice.--DR. DAN
January 18, 1999
BITS AND BYTES WHILE THE COMPUTER STILL WORKS
With the hard drive on my Diamond Dusting computer more wobbly than the
accountants at the Salt Lake City Olympics, I figured I'd better data dump my backlog of
notes and quotes before they tragically disappear into cyber space.
Okay, tragic might be too strong a word, but the sporting public always over
reacts-- how else can you explain soccer moms and little league dads.
Now I admit I am not too sure how to organize our weekly, or weakly, visit,
perhaps we will dispense with people who won't quit, (see the White House jogger) and
people who would and did, (that fellow Jordan, Michael , not Vernon.) It's my opinion that
Mike still owe's an industry that has made his next 53 generations millionaires. Such as a 50
game victory lap around the NBA/USA. If the game hadn't been there he would be still
striking out on minor league curve balls somewhere in Alabama and our Utah Jazz boy Bryan
Russell wouldn't be famous for getting hand-checked out of the NBA title.
And speaking of our play for pay alums, don't you know that with the Bears
collapse, the Bulls breakup, and the Blackhawks melt down, that the Cubbies and Mr.
Trachsel,( last seen viewing one of those McGuire bombs from the pitcher's mound), are now
the hope and heroes of the Second City.
And while we are still in the jewelry department viewing the diamonds, season tickets
are going strong for Dirtbag baseball at the even better Blair Field. New box seats, a high tech
scoreboard, a glitzy schedule and the pitchers relief act of 1999. What's that last item you say,
well it's another rule from the fevered minds of the NCAA that in essence outlaws those
hopped up aluminum missile launchers in favor of a lighter, less potent, metal version of a
wood bat.
Niner hitting coach Don Barbara figures that if his '99 Niners go back to the
basics and emphasize good hand movement, they can still drive the power alleys, although
matching his 1990 .474 average might be a wee bit difficult. The good news is that the new
edition of Snowmen has terrific pitching, defensive depth, experience, and well, Dave
Snow. And you can dig your own dirt next Wednesday at the annual Leadoff Dinner call
985-4662 to get a chair.
Now some notes on the pizza box. Jack Graham admirers will memorialize the late
coach on January 28th at the Petroleum club. Insiders report that the food fest and annual
tear-jerking tribute for the volleyball seniors will be seen by over 500 folks, which is about
what some local VB teams draw for a season. The festivities are coming up February 3rd, the
same date preps can sign their scholarship papers. And it is true that the recent title trot of the
Beach has made it tough to get non conference visitors on the Pyramid net schedule next year
even though Misty will only be hanging in the rafters. Lady hoops, however, has inked Ohio
State and Georgia for their holiday tourney next season.
And Russ Rose of Penn State has now finished reading the notes he keeps
scribbling while his Lions collect runner up trophies. Back to hoops, it's worth driving the
parking maze to see the newest Long Beach high-rise, 6-8 center Rhonda Smith, who is all
alone in the national stats for shots bloked, nearly 5 a game, with her chasers at 3.5 bpg. The
big girl is an air traffic controller in the paint and led the Beach to carbon copy romps over
NMSU (66-45) and Nevada (64-45) last weekend. They will host Fullerton and Irvine Friday
and Sunday while the men are visiting those two idyllic spots Thursday and Saturday.
Bathing in Reflected Glory Dept.--local payroll magnate Wayne Sluman who's PGA
pro brother Jeff who started the golf year fast with $468,000 and the Sony Open title last
weekend in Hawaii. Slu's pal Mark O'Meara will be feted with the Century Club athlete of
the Year on February 9th. Most valuable ticket seller in the Mid is Seang Chheang who
despite the fact that the visitors were under 15 points at halftime, got cash for a couple of seats
with less than 20 minutes of hoop remaining. And last add super-stars, when Long Beach State
defeated USC 3-2 to win the UCSB Collegiate Classic last weekend Dave McKienzie and
Jeremy Blain were voted to the all-tournament team and Matt Prosser was named MVP.
Now back to control-alt-delete--DR. DAN
January 11, 1999
COUNTING CHAMPIONS AND CALORIES--IT'S THE BANQUET SEASON
If your significant other likes to make reservations rather than french cuisine for
dinner, I've got good news for you. The Spring sports' banquet season is near and while you
better have your checkbook loaded, the entertainment, if not the entrees, promise to be fun,
and more than likely, filling.
The first event up to bat is a two day celebration of the Gwynn baseball
family January 22 & 23 with proceeds to the Boys and Girls Club. Golf is on day one and
dinner (with Padre star Tony, pro brother Chris, and assorted family) is the next night. The
price is also major league, $150 bucks for each event with info at 595-5945.
Next up is the well established, and modest at 75 clams, Long Beach State
Dirtbag baseball Leadoff Dinner at the Hyatt Regency. The new Dodger brass will make one
of their first public outings led by General Manger Kevin Malone and a couple of tables of
other Dodger family, perhaps including field manager Davey Johnson, assistant GM and
former Dirtbag aide Bill Gievett, trainer of the ages Bill Buehler, and other front office and
field folks. Oh yeah, legendary former Dodger beat writer Gordy Verrell is usually sighted at
these affairs. Reservations at 985-4550 with silent and live auctions, celebration of the 1998
College World Series team. and introductions of the 1999 Dirtbags, pre-season picked as high
as second in the nation.
And then following those two grand events is the LB women's volleyball
shindig which of coursers features a coach of the year, player of the year, and team of the ages,
the undefeated NCAA champion lady 49ers. It's set for Wednesday, February 3 at the
Renaissance Hotel. Call 985-4662 to okay your $40 chow-down which includes an at least
five-hanky video tribute and senior speeches.
And then on February 9th, if the bi-carb is still working, the lively Long Beach
Century Club honors almost everybody in local sports with their annual banquet applauding
and placquing hundreds of home town heroes. The honorees include athlete of the year and
double major golf winner Mark O'Meara, who played for the Beach way back when, and
coach of the year Brian Gimmallaro, who adds the C-Club hardware to his national and Big
West honors.
DUST BUSTERS- Hotel Pyramid has sent her long and lanky basketball guests out on
the road to New Mexico State for a 9 p.m. tv show Thursday night already up 3-0 in the Big
West trophy dash. Maybe the woeful Clippers will want to rent the cots next.
Ray Ratelle's hammering Niner volleyballers put dents in the floor last Friday as they
warmed up for an NCAA title run of their own, And the referees, calling the lines (used to
working the womens' game) were almost late in realizing the faster speed of the men's game,
ducking and dodging to save there, er ah, private parts. Last add volleys, if you read that
cranky column on the title match from the Penn State home town paper you got some mis-info.
These champs of ours aren't whining, but if you are looking for a supply of sour grapes
they've got a supply back in the Nittany Mountains.
The Anderson family is having a pretty fine '99 to date, first Kathy helps Gary's
Viking hoop program with a lively bingo fund raiser, then the big fellow has his team on an
undefeated streak. But both mom and dad would like to see some numbers, as in minutes
played, from talented son Ricky who's cooling his sneaks at Arizona. Maybe that spare time
led the coach to say he was confident enough in the LBCC bunch to challenge some four year
programs. Last add hoops, Niner transfer Greg Clark getting a lot of playing time at
Washington.
Really final dusting. Everything looks better at the Beach this week with the recent
NCAA title, a #2 pre-season rank for Dirtbag baseball, the fast conference start for Wayne &
Co. and the good news that the father of the pyramid, Cal State dreamer/planner/builder Jon
Regnier has finished a 15 year plan check and got married to Patterson School director Pam
McDonald. Way to go all you all, see you at the salad bar.--DR. DAN
January 4, 1999
NO WHINE--JUST CHEESE, SNOW, AND HOOPS ON THE REBOUND
Welcome back to sports school, it's time to shake off those party hats and get back to
the serious business of athletic achievement.
We might as well get to the hot topic of the day, to wit, men's basketball, and wether
the mental vitamins left over from the euphoria of a volleyball championship can infect the
folks that dribble and dunk instead of set and spike.
Well, reading dispatches from our far flung correspondents in Idaho, so far so good.
With his team finally intact, Mr. Morgan went into a pretty tough gym and knocked off the
pre-season choice for the Big West East division in chilly Moscow, Idaho. Now that ain't
Moscow, USSR and it was college Vandals not the Red Army but take a look for yourself this
Thursday and Saturday when the Niner gents try Nevada and Utah State. It might just be
that the combo Wayne & staff now have on the court, with O'Neal leading the band and
Rock firing the missiles, will be enough to surprise the dooms-dayers. We'll see, but you've
got to dance with what brung ya.
CHEESEY DUST--Lacking a band of their own for the NCAA final four in
Wisconsin, as you might know the Beach athletic brass rented a double handful of UW
musicians to play Misty, etc. for the Niner courtiers and their cheering ensemble. Now
Madison memories part two. That new and improved patch of civic green modestly call the
Queen Mary Events Park was the landing zone for the official -unofficial Long Beach State
pep band, cleverly disguised as the University of Wisconsin marching 203. Stretching along
the bay next to the Queen Mary, the park hosted the musical inspiration for the Niners
volleyball title dance, getting a warm welcome from their adopted home town. The group
included homemade signs by former Rose Bowl Princess Nancy Kridell, a LB loyalist of the
first degree and mom to Hall of Fame water poloist Chi Kridell, along with GTE retiree
Roger Reyburn, Bobby Sox softball mogul Dave Pylman and a scattering of other
Beachers.
The day before the game concert was cooked up by QM impresario Joe Prevatil and
his chief aide Travis Montgomery, both of whom are loyal LBSU supporters, and not opposed
to showing off the big boat (and the little sub) to the best of the Midwest. And as promised
in the clever pins made by University Housing boss Gary Little, the exacta of LB in VB and
UW in the RB both came home smelling like, er, ah roses. Little called that shot with
collectors edition pins sprouting "Go Beach/Go Badgers." Might want to invite Gary by to
pick your next lottery numbers.
And we can also report that eventually the beer and cheese mob finally made it back
home, although they had some nervous travel moments. No, not that wimpy winter blizzard,
it was when Coach Jim Lineberger, (he of the long, long stories), spotted the Wisconsin
entourage along the parade route in Pasadena. Some cheerleaders stopped to say Hi, and well,
in front of network tv, they brazenly wandered over to his curbside seat. Frankly we are
darned lucky that the conversation with the old Pac 10 ref was short or those flowers would
have wilted before big Jim would have finished his yarn.
Last add Madison memories. In the post title delirium was the sensational import Anja
Grobavac and her parents who traveled from Croatia for the Beach title run. Asked to speak
to the assembled celebrants, Mom-ja G. said "my English is not too good, but 25 years ago I
was on the national championship basketball team in my country, and now my daughter is on
the national championship team in the USA". And until then my eyes were almost dry.
With the big hitting Anja coming back along with the Barratt blocking machine, the flying
Kierulff sister, plus Ohta, Weaver, Haneff and a great collection of redshirts and recruits,
Chef (and AVCA National Coach of the Year) Brian Gimmillaro's cupboard is hardly bare.--DR.
DAN
January 1, 1999
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS IN FORTY-NINER-VILLE
Probably the least wanted column this week is one of those tired old make-a-resolution
for the new year things.
Or a sarcastic review of last years promises from the sporting society. Hummm, might
get embarrassing for those who were short on wins or long on losses.
So let's settle for an accounting of Christmas presents that we hoped got unwrapped
last week in 49erville. And a modest discussion of what they might mean in this countdown
to Y2K.
The first pile of packages that we hope got opened was a healthy and happy holiday for
the student athletes who are the centerpiece of the courts and pools and playing fields of
LBSU. In fact. in the spirit of the season, we will extend that gift to our collegiate neighbors,
Trojans, Bruins, Anteaters, Gauchos and yes, even Titans.
The next pile opened featured that Monopoly set that the 49er athletic business folks
hope includes real money to pay the bills and build out the Pyramid. If your lottery numbers
come in sometime soon, they accept late gifts (can you say $3 mill) to put your name on the
big blue roof. And while we are still dreaming, a financial thank you note from wealthy
sporting alums in the NBA, NFL and PGA is overdue. You know who you are.
For Niner volleyball setting guru Debbie Green, we hope she got a copy of "Making
All American Setters, Volume IV." That should be easy, since she wrote the original book
with Sheri Sanders (1986-90), Sabrina Hernandez ( 91-94) and mostly recently that pig tailed
terror Misty what's her name. Her next project should be a 6-2 bundle of raw talent from a
tiny town in Colorado, Brittany Hochevar. The budding star has verbally committed and is
expected to give CSULB her autograph on a letter of intent in February.
Then there was this shopping spree at Stadiums R Us for coach Pete Manarino and his
pop Pete Sr. who would dearly love to build out the 49er softball complex. GQ Peter has
been delivering his team to the Big West trophy room on a regular basis and plays in more
than his share of NCAA post season events despite an. er, ah, plain wrap home field facility. I
know for a fact that they got 140 Christmas cards (and checks) from their first ever booster
group.
And while we are admiring the jewelry on the diamonds, I kind hope Santa gave good
guy coach Dave Snow a fast start this season, saving on the antiacid he usually has to gulp
early on until the Dirtbags hit their late season stride. And while we are in that corner of the
yard, I hope marketing boss John Costello got a year's supply of hamburger helper, or what
ever that stuff is that you use to make a little go a long way, as in his beleaguered advertising
budget. It's always amazing how much the Beach boys do with so little.
And lest we forget Ray Ratelle, Alan Knipe and Andy Read, the trifecta that runs
men's volleyball. The all got walkie talkies to share with a team loaded with talent but still
learning to communicate. That's okay fellas, the season doesn't start until next week.
Meanwhile our hoop teams would just like to play with all the presents they collected
last year. Like unwrapping the bum left ankle of Mate Milisa, the eligibility of Charles
O'Neal and Crystal Givens and Marina Sanchez. And of course, a nice fresh start in the
second season, known as the Big West conference race.
Last but never least, the lads and lassies of water polo and soccer and tennis and track
wished for a present of your presence. Translated, they hope that you will make a resolution
to come to some of their contests in the coming year. They work as hard (or harder) than the
high profile athletes, never gripe about playing time or fancy warmups. Do yourself and them
a favor and find time to root them on. That's will be a gift for you and them.--DR.
DAN
December 21, 1998
MOMENTS IN OUR TIME: FORTY-NINER WOMENS' VOLLEYBALL
Good natured debate has gone on for years about the importance of sport to society.
Is it that one defining moment where an outcome, in a world of indefinites, is clear and
known. Is it the effort regardless of accomplishment. Alter egos out of control. A time for
bonding and pride. Perhaps all of these, but certainly this out-of- the-Chruch-basement game
of volleyball, and the Long Beach ladies in particular, have clearly won the hearts and minds
of this town in this time. Let's grab a handful of moments that, in one persons opinion, got
us to where we are now
.
1964--An self-confessed tom-girl from Iowa agrees to add coaching the first
edition of Long Beach State College's womens' volleyball team to her duties in basketball and
golf. Dr. Fran Schaafsma, who literally was the founding mother of a host of sports for Long
Beach ladies, organized a team that had a more than respectable 4-4 record. She would carry
the torch until the beginning of the 1970's when, after one year of coaching by Ann Heck,
current Phys Ed chair Dixie Grimmett would lead 13 teams onto the east gym court, none
better than her first bunch, the 33-0 Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
champions. She's too joined the couple hundred Long Beach fans in Madison wanting
history, now on a very big stage, to repeat a perfect season with a national title.
1977--The union of a nationally ranked tennis player who also loved volleyball, and a
beach-born and bred Hawaii transplant, gave birth to Barbara and Butch May's balloon
batting baby Misty. Once she grew out of the ball bag, Misty graduated from entertaining the
sand court citizens like Wilt Chamberlain and Kathy Gregory up and down Southern
California beaches, to thrilling a nation and perhaps, soon, the rest of the planet, with fire and
ice, finesse and flash.
1985--One of the best prep coaches in the area, himself a 1970 econ grad of LBSU,
leaves a perennial state power at Gahr High to revive a struggling program. Brian Gimmillaro
not only revived his sport, but 392 wins and only 93 losses later will this year see his legacy
surpass Stanford as the most consistently classy and successful program in the country, with
wins, player of the year awards, and post season success. They ought to put Gimmillaro's
picture on the chamber brochures along side the Queen Mary and the Aquarium. He would
be chosen as Big West Coach of the Year many times but only the Asics national coach of the
year award in 1990 from colleagues. He disdains the spotlight but his legion of fans feel that
they are still battling for overdue respect from a jealous and protective American Volleyball
Coaches Association for a Coach of the Year award and fighting for tournament seeding
fairness from the NCAA.
1986--The 49ers struggle to a 15-17 mark and miss the NCAA playoffs for the only
time in the history of that tournament. Opponents may have kicked sand in their face, but
the Beach didn't fold their tents and three years later they would shock the establishment with
their first national title.
1989--The Tara Cross led Cinderella Beach is sent to unfriendly Stockton for a regional
burial. No dice. LBSU would whip both host Pacific and powerful Hawaii before winning it
all on Hawaii's home court with a 3-1 victory over Texas-Arlington in the semis and a
knockout of Nebraska in the title tilt, including a historic 15-0 bageling in game two.
1991--If a certain South American country felt that a World Cup was decided on a
mysterious goal called the "hand of God". To this day 49er faithful are certain that a phantom
touch, when the Beach was up two games and leading UCLA in championship game three,
stole their NCAA title. The Bruins got the side out and the heart-broken and angry Niners
would never recover. Selfless superstar Antoinnette White, who would go on to being a
play-for-pay star on the pro Beach circuit, becomes the second national player of the year from
LBSU.
1993--Who could forget Louisiana lightning, Danielle Scott, her swinging mate
Nichelle Burton and backrow specialist supreme Joy McKenzie. Yes that was a 32-2 year
punctuated by a trip to where else, Madison. Playing who else, Florida, like this past
weekend, in the semi's with powerful Penn State lurking in the wings. Burton came out of
Scott's shadow to pound down 28 kills in the final over PSU and the Niners danced their way
out of the land of beer and cheese with championship National Title Two.
1997--With an overflow crowd of 5.015 fans filling the Pyramid to its' point, the Beach
blasted Hawaii in mid-season and finally climbed to Number One in the coaches poll. Shortly
later however, the Niner home front was shocked when the television screen flickered with
the news that Penn State would be the NCAA tourney's top seed. Battling injuries all season,
the Beach went undefeated after a lone loss to Florida in September but had to face eventual
National Champ Stanford in the semi's. Too late to help, a game Jessica Alavardo tried to
rescue the LB in game four but the chill that night in the Spokane air turned to rally fuel for
May and Company and their remarkable 1998 season.
1998--(to be written from Madison.....!!!)
December 14, 1998
WELCOME TO MADISON, THE ENVELOPE PLEASE...
You might already know who's going to win this weekend's NCAA womens'
volleyball title, but the mystery to me is who will win the second most coveted award in the
sport, The Butler.
Now you Hollywood fans might figure that Emmy and Oscar are the most precious
metal around town, but the Butler, named after the redoubtable Sideline Spiker booster
President Terese Butler, is still up for grabs. There's not a soul close to this program that
doesn't believe that a key ingredient in building the Beach to the pinnacle of the sport could
have happened without a zealous, passionate, okay, fanatic booster group that buys, and begs
and sells, and newsletters, and road trips like these Long Beach Sideline Spikers.
The first Butler award was given to namesake Terese four years ago, with Pat Escoto,
Ed Cleary and Randy Loughlin winning last three. And this year the NCAA champ and
Butler award winners will be, hang on, I've got some more notes to get in.
Let's begin with some amateur handicapping of the Final Four. Florida had to battle
at home to get out of Gainesville but is a quality club with a four Jenny offense, misses
Keene, Manz and Sanchez being the best but there's a Jones on the team as well. Gator coach
Mary Wise saw some of the Niners up close last year when the two teams split in an LB visit
to UF opening the '97 season. Her formula is to schedule tougher teams early and then pile
up W's until tourney time. The key may well be how diversified the Beach attack has grown
since then, striking from the left, right middle, backrow (via Kristy Kierulff) and almost
anywhere else from the incomparable Miss May.
Nebraska would like to be seen as the dark house and are actually lucky to be seen in
Madison at all. Both youthful Pepperdine and Wisconsin almost took the air out of Herby
Husker, the model for Long Beach's new inflatable mascot, Niner. Anything could happen
but my feeling is that Penn State's powerful block and the second best setter in the game,
Bonnie Bremmer, will have an answer for any Nebraska trickery, inflatible or not.
The PSU Nits are almost a mirror of the Beach in terms of making you pay for
mistakes. Both teams will bury you the moment you falter and both have been eying each
other for longer than coaches Brian Gimillaro and Russ Rose care to remember. Now it's
time to settle this east-west test, and the winner will be, humm I'll get back to you on
that.
More Notes & Quotes---And will Pyramid ticket czar Jeff Giacomi now have true
believers when he says "don't get shut out, buy your tickets early." A couple hundred cars
toured the parking cones at the 'Mid Friday night, turned away from the volleyball Regional
Final because all the seats were sold and the NCAA wouldn't allow standing room only
ducats. And even more were in line for the final home match of Misty, Jessica and Benishe.
Imagine the overflow if those self assured Stanfordians hadn't blown a rematch of the '97
semi-final, losing to Texas the night before.
I had a feeling the Longhorns would not be in the Regional title match long when they
kept referring in the press conference to having made "The Elite Eight" and having beaten a
already beat up Cardinal squad. The Niners on the other hand view each match as a toll gate
on the road to a title. Oddly enough during their 1993 championship run they gigged the
Gators 3 zip in the semi's and captured crown beating Penn State in a marathon, 15-13, 12-15,
15-11 and 16-4. So there you are fans and fanatics. Let's pick a winner. The Niners have
clearly paid their dues in practice since August and battled point for point all year. Barring a
mishap, well, I'll tell you what. Make your pick with a silent prayer. I think we agree so you
can finish this column yourself.Happy Holidays--DR. DAN
December 7, 1998
FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA, AN NCAA PRODUCTION
Only the NCAA could bring the Mountain to the Beach. And move a president who
cheers.
Welcome to the post season as brought to you by the National Collegiate
Athletic Association---the same fine folks that invented the Bowl Championship Series and are
about to settle for umpteen millions owed limited earning coaches in back pay while they
hold television hostage for more billions than Carl Sagan had in his celestial universe.
This Thursday and Friday the fine folks at LBSU will cut the ribbon on the
NCAA Mountain Regional Womens' Volleyball tournament. Granted the best team in the
nation is here, the host 49ers, the defending national champion Stanford, pre-season top 5
Texas, and Illinois of the Big 11, but why is it a Mountain Region. Well that's because one of
the inside NCAA favorites, Nebraska, already claimed that Pacific moniker. Fortunately the
frenzy on the farm will feature at least two teams that know a bucket of sand from a bucket
of, well the stuff you feed the cattle. My sources say Pepperdine's baby boomer Waves and
UC Santa Barbara both have a shot of advancing over the red waving, and relatively untested
host team, Nebraska.
Only Penn State (naturally), has an easy road from the Central Regional to
Madison and the Final Four, unless BYU can develops some killer instinct missing in losses to
Long Beach and Hawaii. And in the East, played down south in Gainesville, Florida, the host
Gators (33-2) are suspect and could fall to either of two West toughies, Hawaii (31-2) or USC,
(24-5). Now wouldn't that make the seeding committee ill, if the Final Four was all or nearly
all surfboard waxing West Coast teams?
And speaking of the gentle governors of sport, what' s up with the official
NCAA observers bouncing the President and his wife from their usual courtside seats for
cheering during the v-ball first round last weekend?. What would they do in a facility where
there is no Gucci row (okay Wal-Mart row) and all the fan seating rings the court? Just
wondering, but I kind of think the on court comments by the Arizona players did more to
fire up Ms. May and her mates then the First Family exhortations. Note to opposing teams,
not a good idea to annoy the best in the biz, either Misty or the Maxsons.
Last add side out stuff, the inside spin is that Texas is the most physical team left in the
tourney, Stanford the most experienced, so I guess that leaves Long Beach as just the best. The
Beach has three of the greatest coaches in the game, and besides Brian and Debbie, that would
include our General Patton in pigtails, #5, who can take over a match too. The Niners will
out-dig and out-block you, have the most creative offense in the game, unique scoring balance,
and a selfless spirit that plays together with a single heart beat.
Speaking of your blood pressure pills, how was that UCLA Bruin trip to Miami. This
old alum had flash-backs to my formative years as a little tropical depression before I became a
full fledged Hurricane. Most of the poll watching Westwooders forgot to switch back from
rooting the rebuilding Canes against Syracuse the previous Saturday, in search of those
valuable BCS points. Instead, all they took home was a lovely parting gift known as the Rose
Bowl.
Back to Baskets. Post game with college basketball's original happy face, Utah's Rick
Majerus, recertified the art of spin doctoring. Surviving the 49er's twilight zone in the
Pyramid, the coach of last year's Final Four Running Ute's went on the defensive. "Our kids
our so new...our best three players are in Mexico, Ecuador and the Honduras...we stayed two
extra days in Hawaii." Wayne Morgan on the other hand drew his finger across the stat sheet
until he spotted the 38 free throws tried by the visitors and the 11 his guy tried. The
WAC-based
refs had long disappeared into the night, avoiding the interrogation on residential
robbery charges. A similar Niner effort against Kansas State Saturday should yield a real, not
moral, victory.
And working on what is victory, did I hear Arizona's womens' volleyball coach saying
that IF his Cats had not blown their lead in game one (losing 15-11) they would have beat the
invincible Long Beach Ladies of the Spike? Please. This weekend, however will see the
temperature rising when the big kids hit the 'Mid. No triple bagels as in the 15-0, 15-0, 15-0
rout over Southern last Thursday, but the magic number for Magic Misty & Co. is now four
for the hardware. Two more wins in the regional and then two in Wisconsin for the NCAA
ring thing.
Final add, if you haven't caught the newest Long Beach landmark, Rhonda Smith, you
better do it. Tall enough to change the flight approaches at LB airport, the 6-8 center
dominated the So Cal Women of Troy with points (18), blocks (5) and rebounds (11). Not
since the Cindy Brown-Cheryl Miller battles has one player emerged from this storied rivalry
as a legitimate dominating force.Welcome to the Beach Ms. Smith.--DR. DAN.
.
November 30, 1998
DRIVING MISS DIRTBAG AND OTHER TALES OF THE ROAD
Welcome to the Grunion Gazette traffic school where today's lesson is driving
safety.
We will start with the ambitious route to a national championship in women's
volleyball which begins Thursday evening on that treacherous road course for visitors known
as the Long Beach State Pyramid. Southern U, is first to the gate on Thursday followed
Friday night by the winner of Thursday's Fresno State-Arizona collision. Experts in our
traffic copter don't really expect the first Sig Alert until next weekend when they predict that
defending NCAA champ Stanford (25-3) and free swinging Texas (24-4) arrive at the gore
point with the survivor getting the Beach in a first class Regional final.
Now please turn your attention to the green sanctuary of Virginia Country
Club where Monday's Dirtbag Baseball Golf tournament was touring the pristine greens.
Well the longest drive came mid afternoon on #14 when a teenage auto thief attempted to lay
up safely motoring through the links in someone else's Mercedes. He crashed into a culvert
than had really bad luck. The foresome on the green was comprised of a quartet (vacationing
we hope) of LBPD and LA Sheriff's personnel.
Not packing any thing more dangerous than a Big Bertha, county mounty Eric
Estrada charged the culprit with a Jeff Gordon putter, (looking at the moment to the bad boy
very much like a serious weapon.) I've seen these guys play and no club is a serious weapon,
but the appearance was enough to hold the fort until on-duty constables made the arrest and
the round continued.
Oh yes, and worst of all, John Costello Sr. of the host club says that the VCC
executive committee is considering a strong reprimand to the young miscreant for not driving
on the cart path.
And while we have the Thomas Guide out, who should appear on the Niner's Road
Back to Basketball Respect than my all-buffet team-mate Rick Majerus, leader of the 98 Final
Four Utah Runnin' Utes. The sweater filling, water cooler flinging Rick-ster deserves a full
house Saturday night and the improving Beach boys have high hopes of hanging with the big
kids. The Long Beach ladies of the baskets battle USC at 1 p.m. before the gents take over at
7.
Returning to my Dirtbag notes, former player and last year's first base coach Jeff
Tagliaferri will cross the chalk again as a pro this spring, going to camp with his original
organization, the Detroit Tigers. Tippy hit .306 in his three LBSU seasons before Detroit sent
him to their Jamestown Jammers club. The front office execs always liked his game even
though he opted to "retire" and work on his degree. When Pittsburgh kept on him to give it a
try with the Pirate org he asked for a release and that's when Detroit talked the first sacker
into another go. No word yet if Possum or Froggy will take over his stop-watch and go-signs
at first base.
Meanwhile the Snowman and his trusty aide Mike Weathers celebrated nearly a full
house for the golf event and hope for the same in January for the Lead Off Dinner. Dave calls
the off season, Between Memories and Dreams, reflecting on his club's great run to Omaha
last year and the high hopes for 1999.
Last add old Dirtbags, the boys of early spring and summer. Oakland's Jason
Giambi starting a new and improved three year contract chatting with Padre's World Series
SS Chris Gomez. Both agreed that pitchers are better golfers because they work about a day
and a half a week. "I know some guys, " Giambi says, "that study the schedule to figure out
which courses they can play in every town." Guess that's unless they have to take a turn on
the hill. Which reminded old ump and stock guru Joe Reed that his pal skipper Tony Muser
once stripped the KC clubhouse of all golf clubs. Ouch.
And just one more golf bit, from my Century Club clipboard, a wonderful visit by
Tiger Wood's personal pro Butch Harmon telling tales of the wunderkind. It seems on a
recent off weekend Tiger was in Las Vegas and visited a longtime pal Brian Hull who golfed at
USC. Brian was involved in one of those PGA qualifying things and Tiger offered to be his
caddy. Hull did not make the cut and was asked, "Well, what was the problem, maybe you
can blame your caddy!" Humm, maybe the caddy could have hit a few of those long irons for
him. Last add Butch, he also repeated the great story about a pro golfer who after a bad day
was seen reading the newspaper's leader board upside down. "Why" he was asked, "I look
closer to the top this way."--DR. DAN
November 23, 1998
SAMPLES FROM THE 49ER SPORTING MENU
Putting topics on the table, while Hacksaw carves the Bird. Deviled eggs next to the
spiced volleyball, a casserole of hoops, a Dirtbag dessert and a toast to our water polo
coach.
We'll start with volleyball where the Pyramid's plush recruit welcome station
has more hardware thanks to the Niner women dusting Nevada last weekend for the Big West
trophy. And keep your eye on the rafters Saturday night when they (ssssh, it may be a secret)
retire Misty May's #5 jersey and say a warm good bye to her senior All American teammates
Benishe Dillard and Jessica Alvarado. Good bye sorta, since the Niners will next host a bunch
of NCAA rounds leading to an expected Final Four showdown in Madison, Wisconsin.
And what of the gentlemen volleyballers, well they are just now coming around after
"The 1st Annual 49er Has Been Golf Tournament" run in conjunction with the end of fall
practice and the Alumni match. After golf, the alumni made its way over to the Pyramid for
some food, some liquid libation observing another victory by the LBSU Women's Team
followed by a stumble down memory lane to some of their formerly frequented watering
holes. Our roving mike caught this snippet just before the alumni game. Alan Knipe to Brett
Winslow, " did you get up early?" Brett responded, "If 15 minutes ago is considered early."
Rest up guys, January is getting closer.
And for your in baskets, Morgan & Company have a talented incoming signee, James
Wright, at 5-11, is an ultra quick guard in the mode of UCLA's Rod Foster. He led Manual
Arts to the LA City title game last year and was one of just 3 juniors on the LA Times All
City Team. And I can't resist this, now that Seth Greenberg has a road W over Texas is his
wandering eye working on an exit from South Florida?
Now actual baseball news. Dirtbag golfers ready to swing away on Monday at
Virginia Country Club followed by dinner and you know what at Mums. Call 985-7548 to
get squeezed in to one or both events. The coaches were at their podium best when good guy
John Morrison of the Los Alamitos Vessells Club hosted the College World Series team and
watched the Snowman present the players with CWS watches, videos and plaques for wining
the West Regional.
Neatest thing about following baseball players into a parking lot is seeing the clunkers
they drive. I asked one rookie if he knew how to double the value of his car? You fill it with
gas. And speaking of fueling up, the Niners had a great fall signing class, six well regarded
prospects including pitcher-outfielder Michael Davies, who could be in the mold of returning
freshman All American and two spot player, Jason Berni. The others are right-handed
pitchers Colby Lewis and Bo Ashanbramer, LHP Bobby Cramer, INF Kevin Randel and OF
Jeremy Reed.
And at that recent chow down with the Dirtbags, a great rendering of the soon to
arrive scoreboard with title sponsor Glenn Thomas Dodge proudly on top. Way to go Bob
Davis with thanks also to retiring City Park and Rec czar Ralph Cryder. Finally a note to the
beer barons of Blair, you can get a 14 ouncer with your hockey at Maple Leaf Gardens for
$1.63. But the brew and the air it isn't any colder than Long Beach in the early spring.
And last, sad, add. The end of the Ken Lindgren era at Long Beach State came in a
almost invisible one liner in the wire service transactions column. But his 20 plus years toiling
for his sport , water polo, his team, Long Beach State, and his private passion, mathematics,
Ken deserved a lot more. His W & L sheet seldom rivaled the bigger budgeted programs
down and up the street. He regularly raised a giant hunk of his sport's budget and kept a
squad size big enough to give a diamond in the rough a chance to glow. With only a couple of
scholarships you have to have a pool full of potential suspects to match the bonafide prospects
fully funded programs have.
Regrettably, his strategy of walk-on opportunity became increasingly out of sync with
balancing the gender equity books, so this year he cut his squad size almost in half to 20. And
still critics would say Lindgren, despite being an Olympic quality teacher, wasn't producing
enough shiny hardware. And life in today's complicated college athletic world just isn't as
much fun. I guess a wiser man would resign himself to that fact, but I for one am thankful
Ken Lindgren gave it a go. It's a lot more fun than watching the Starr wars on tv--DR.
DAN
DREAMS & NIGHTMARES: DUMBO DOWNS AND A KEVIN COSTNER
MOVIE--maintained by almost popular demand
When you are a little baby Titan you dreamt of either having your own elephant to
race at Dumbo Downs (circa 1962) or having a baseball class with the mythological figure
August Garrido, (now on the lam somewhere in Texas). CSUF is the poster child for
wannabe's. The elephant idea (aka Tuffy the Stuffy) was supposed to be the athletic equivalent
of the USC Trojan Horse. Whoops I. Taking the baseball class was supposed to lead Kevin
Costner to the major leagues in baseball instead of the minor leagues in movies. Whoops II.
So this weekend once again the Fedco beer swizzling bunch from behind the Orange Curtain
gets a three day pass to see their rich and successful relatives, and if the games are not enough
we are pleased offer them a list of Kevin's finest films you can rent or purchase up at the 99
cent store and take a stack back to the trailer park.
We will start with the classic Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991) where KC played
himself followed by Silverado (1985) can you forget Jake; Tin Cup (1996) with Roy 'Tin
Cup' McAvoy; American Flyers (1985)look quick he was Marcus, Revenge (1990)a toughie
called Cochran; Night Shift (1982) the unforgettable Frat Boy (soon to be Mike Besack in the
remake); Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) playing at Robin of Locksley (maybe that's
where they got Coach Horton to pose kneeling with the sword); The Postman (1997) where
KC double-dipped as producer; The Bodyguard, (1992) either Fannie or Frank Farmer; and
the reason we have El Nino---Waterworld (1995) (role still unclear to me but it helps me get to
sleep). Enjoy the weekend and I hope you Titan guests brought those free seeds, we sell them
here.
Oh yes, scores and baseball stuff. The 49ers set all cosmic records Friday night
in that epic 30 run win , but now it can be revealed that late Friday night Gary Powers and
the Pack parked the return trip of that Napalm Train next to the Dirtbag bullpen and for 48
hours in Reno the usually accurate and powerful pitching staff was rendered unconscious.
Commissioner Farrell and staff are investigating as soon as they hold off the raiding parties
from the West Coast Conference. Meanwhile the Titans completed a series sweep at New
Mexico State with an 18-8 win on Sunday. The Who's (32-12, 17-4) now have a six-game
winning streak and have pulled even with the Niners in the Big West Conference South
Division, aka the Big Bruise Conference. Nevada dunked Niner hitters more times than an
apple at Halloween and in Las Cruces CSUF freshman David Bacani was hit by a pitch twice,
thus earning him the dubious single season record of being hit by a pitch 18 times this season.
The previous record was set by C.J. Ankrum in 1995 when he was hit 17 times during the
season. Be patient David, you may well get that record all to yourself before sundown on
Sunday.
DUSTING THE BBQ--still time to shine your boots for the Round Up pre-game
food and beverage bash at Blair Saturday night, and free shirts to all in attendance. Ring'em up
at 985-4949 or 985-4662 and join the festivities, saving the Friday night promo, a Legend's
meal freebe and the Sunday kid's baseball, for when things are slow in the summer.
And speaking parties, the prize for dumping 4th ranked BYU in the NCAA volleyball
postseason is that opportunity to join the caravan to UCLA where they will decide half the
Final Four Thursday and Saturday, Ray's Rockets going up against the Bruins, Hawaii vs.
Pepperdine as the JV match. The best two get a shot at a even more weak national field since
Ohio State was upset by Loyola of Chicago. Back to Bases--Nevada's Joe Inglett received
Co-Big West Conference Field Player of the Week honors for his performance against the
now No. 22-ranked Niners over the weekend. Inglett went 9-for-14 (.643) in the series with
two doubles, six runs scored, and six RBI. I thought we had that guy when he went 0-for-3 in
Nevada's opening-game loss, but Inglett went 9-for-11 in the final two games and he continued
to swing the hot bat Monday against Cal Poly-SLO in a 19-6 UNR laugher, going 3-for-4 with
a single, double, and a grand-slam. Inglett shared this week's honors with Fullerton's Pete
Fukuhara, who went 8-for-11 with seven runs scored and four RBI at New Mexico
State.
And from the chat room on the 49er athletics page, this posting on the hot stove
league gossip about UCSB and UOP deserting the BWC. "What makes you think that the
WCC would want us? That conference, much like the Ivy's, is one of the few conferences
around that is comprised of schools that are all about the same size, have similar educational
missions and philosophies, and comparable programs and facilities. Letting a "giant" like the
49ers enter would not bode well for many of the schools. Furthermore, I don't believe their
women's programs are as strong as the Big West. The things that make the WCC strong also
make the Big West vulnerable. Different size institutions, different philosophies and missions,
the football playing schools vs. the non football schools, the geographics - all can contribute to
a break-up of the conference." Okay , Okay, besides the Presidents of the WCC decided this
week that it would not expand and denied admittance to both Pacific and UCSB. - now more
news than you want about Froggy, a.k.a., Seth Jaskoviak...his agent gave me a full page of
notes, i.e. Froggy is a cum laude graduate of Snow's baseball camp where he won MVN, most
valuable nickname...he finished 6th among we don't know how many in a cross country meet
last year, he is an uncle to Molly Kate and sometimes umpires real little leaguers...his biggest
fear is getting in Coach Snow's way when he is signaling...that's my fear too--DR. DAN
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Copyright Dr. Dan Barber 1999.
For information about this web site contact Tipper Gore Summer 1998.