Virgen’s View: 50-year high school referee Ursini gets deserved praise
Through all the jokes and silly props, a strong love was clearly evident during a roast and celebration for Fran Ursini at Costa Mesa Country Club on Tuesday night.
There was a love for a man, who has devoted so much care for his community and so much passion to his work as a high school football referee. There was a love from Ursini for all those who showed up to honor him as he is in his 50th and final year of working as an official.
Even after all the roasting, Ursini couldn’t hold back his gratefulness.
“I love all you guys,” Ursini said to close the event. “I’m gonna miss you.”
There were plenty of laughs at the expense of Ursini, but it seemed to be all in good fun, as everyone appeared to cherish their relationship with the man most known for founding the Newport Rib Co., a strong sponsor/supporter of local athletics, especially those in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.
Ursini has a strong love for high school sports, especially football. He played at Austin High in Chicago, where he also played a year at the local junior college. But, he said because he was so short he knew he couldn’t play on the next level.
What could he do? He still loved the game. He thought about becoming a referee and so he did.
“It’s probably one of the best things I did in my life, becoming a sports official,” Ursini told me before the program began. “I’ve loved it. I never did it for the money. I just thought it was a great thing. I’ve looked forward to every Friday night.”
Many of his friends and family stepped to the mic to tell jokes but to also pay respect to Ursini. Laird Hayes, an NFL side judge and a Newport Beach resident, said that Ursini took him under his wing to help him become an official.
Hayes brought a signed football from his NFL officiating crew and also a congratulatory letter from the NFL Referees Assn.
That was about the only serious moment during the night, as Jeff Gardner, Melanie Fitch, Tom Pestolesi, Eugene Pagliaro, Bruce Rollinson, Jim Landis, Steve Mensinger/Mike Bargas/Jim Righeimer, Dave Malek, Doug Turner and Harvey Bosinoff also spoke. Ursini’s grown-up children, John, Dave and Laura, also had a turn at the mic.
Steve Fryer of the Orange County Register was the emcee, but surprisingly that wasn’t the worst of it for Ursini.
Fitch, the CEO of Irrelevant Week, inducted Ursini into the “Irrelevant Referee Hall of Fame” and rewarded him with a sight stick wrapped with red challenge flags from the “Braille Institute of Referees.”
She also relayed one of her father’s favorite jokes.
Paul Salata would say, “You’re a great referee. You passed everything on the referee test except for eyesight and judgment.”
The Orange County Football Officials Assn. members also showed up to the event to honor Ursini.
Gardner, a former professional baseball player, jokingly said he wasn’t thrilled to be around so many officials.
“I can’t tell you how uncomfortable I am,” he said.
Fryer, who writes about high school football games for the Register, also had a good joke.
“I like referees,” Fryer said. “I like them because when I show up to football games I know I’m not going to be the most hated guy there.”
Bargas, the Estancia football coach, told Ursini: “You’ve had more dropped calls than AT&T.”
Rollinson, the Mater Dei football coach, came straight from practice to Costa Mesa and also had some jokes about his fellow coaches.
“I know [Mission Viejo Coach Bob] Johnson is not here,” Rollinson said. “He’s too damn old to leave Mission Viejo. [Los Alamitos Coach John] Barnes cant find his way here from Los Al. So, you’re stuck with the Catholic guy.”
Ursini didn’t seem to mind one bit. He took it all in and smiled most of the time. He was happy to have the celebration in Costa Mesa.
“I’ve been here for 50 years,” he said. “This is home. I can’t think of any place else. I think back of Chicago, but this is where I belong. This is where my family is.”