Football: Oaks Christian concerned about media frenzy

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After TV’s ‘Access Hollywood’ did a story on Oaks Christian’s celebrity football players, with ‘Entertainment Tonight’ to follow, Oaks Christian officials have decided to take action ‘to protect the privacy’ of its athletes.

Tom Konjoyan, the director of development, said ‘nontraditional sports media’ will not be allowed access to practices and students.

‘We can’t jeopardize the security of the students,’ he said.

There were parental complaints after a front page story in The Times last week focused on Oaks Christian’s Nick Montana, Trevor Gretzky and Trey Smith -- sons of celebrity parents -- and the likely interest of paparazzi.

In a sign of what’s to come, Coach Bill Redell handed me a visitor’s pass Wednesday night to walk the sideline of a mere summer passing tournament.

‘We’re trying to make sure high school kids can be high school kids,’ Konjoyan said.

-- Eric Sondheimer