Football: Bill Redell roast produces lots of laughter

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There were several hundred people who showed up Sunday night at the Canyon Club in Agoura to roast Westlake Village Oaks Christian football Coach Bill Redell and raise funds for a new all-weather field set to debut this fall.

Redell sat in a chair in the audience holding a microphone and got plenty of zingers off at those roasting him on the podium, which included Joe Montana and Wayne Gretzky. Former UCLA Coach Terry Donahue more than held his own.

Donahue related the story of how Redell started out playing quarterback for one season at USC under Coach John McKay. Redell wanted McKay to put him in a game and knew McKay always stood in the same place on the field, so Redell had friends and family seated directly behind and told them to chant, ‘We want Redell.’

Finally, McKay had heard enough. According Donahue, McKay called over Redell and said, ‘Have you heard all these people calling for you all night? Why don’t you go sit with them.’

And there was Donahue relating how Redell met his wife of 44 years, Cheryl, when the two were freshmen at USC. They went on a blind date. Redell asked Cheryl to meet him at a movie theater.

‘Bill walks to the show, comes around the corner, and there is the best-looking coed you could ever see,’ Donahue said. ‘Bill walks up to Cheryl, ‘Are you Cheryl?’ And Cheryl, with a lot of disappointment in her voice, goes, ‘Are you Bill?’ And Bill says, ‘Yes I am.’ And she said, ‘I’m not Cheryl.’ ‘

Redell was introduced to an almost-standing ovation, then hesitated and said, ‘I’m waiting for everyone to stand.’

One of the speakers pointed out that Redell stresses in his leadership talks, ‘Take credit for all the successes.’

And I’m sure Redell was taking credit long into the night. I only lasted 3 1/2 hours. The event went more than five hours.

-- Eric Sondheimer