SAN DIEGO COUNTY 1986 YEAR IN REVIEW : It Was All Wrapped Up in a Single Word--Changes

Undoubtedly, the most exciting and dramatic event in San Diego sports in 1986 was the last one . . . Tuesday night’s Holiday Bowl.

The ebb and flow of this game, a 39-38 Iowa win over San Diego State, was unforgettable. Just the last minute was unforgettable, the Aztecs taking the lead with 47 seconds to play and Iowa winning as time ran out.

Much came before that ending, however. And that’s the way it was in 1986. Much happened during the year to lead up to its unforgettable ending.

Here’s a look at 1986:

CHARGERS

Heading for the Hills: Don Coryell, head coach since 1978, resigned after a 1-7 start. Coryell disappeared after a noon meeting with owner Alex Spanos and headed for the Laguna Mountains. Coryell returned a few weeks later and said he has no further plans to coach. He will spend much of his time traveling and hiking with his wife, Aliisa. For the first time in 30 years, he said, he had a chance to sit down and read a book: “The Mountains of California” by John Muir.

Taking Charge: The departure of Coryell resulted in the elevation of former assistant head coach Al Saunders to the top job. Saunders, in his first day on the job, established new order by asking players to drop to one knee while he talked to them. More significant changes followed. Saunders instituted a ball control offense, a mixture of runs and short passes which he refused to describe as conservative. He also played a continuing game of semantics with media by insisting there are no bad teams in pro football--only teams with bad records.

Scaling Up . . . or Down: Concerned that their offensive line wasn’t big enough, the Chargers brought in some gigantic blockers. Among them was free agent Steve Collier, who measured 6-feet 7-inches, 327 pounds. He lasted only a few days. They spent a first-round draft choice on James FitzPatrick, a 6-8, 314-pound specimen from USC. He was immediately dubbed “Fats Patrick” by quarterback Dan Fouts. He was placed on injured reserve for purposes of dieting, conditioning and weight training. The defense wasn’t ignored in the calorie counting. Lineman Earl Wilson spent much of training camp trying to reduce his 290 pounds to 275 or so. He finally did, but only after being fined several thousand dollars.

A Rookie Star: Rookie defensive lineman Leslie O’Neal offered some compensation for the disappointment of FitzPatrick’s negligible contribution. The Associated Press’s defensive rookie of the year, O’Neal had 12 1/2 sacks before suffering a severe knee injury late in the season. It was first feared he might miss all of next year, but later reports indicated he might be able to return early in the 1987 season.

Zipped Lip: Alex Spanos, the team owner, adopted a lower profile. In contrast to his first two seasons at the helm, Spanos stayed in the background as the Chargers struggled through a disappointing season. There were persistent reports that Spanos was interviewing candidates to replace General Manager Johnny Sanders, but Spanos denied having that intention. He did not replace Sanders, but did reassign him and fired assistant general manager Tank Younger.

PADRES

The Revolving Door, A Poem: ‘Twas the night before spring training, and all the Padres were snug in their beds with sugar plums and curveballs dancing in their heads.

But Dick Williams, their manager, was nowhere to be found. People knocked on his door, but heard not a sound.

Williams never showed up that night, nor the next morning. It turns out he’d quit, but the players weren’t mourning.

Not at all. Steve Boros--a nice guy--replaced Williams. However, following a fourth-place finish under Boros, the Padres fired him and hired scrappy Larry Bowa.

That’s three managers in nine months.

Trials and Tribulations: Just four days after spring training began, star pitcher LaMarr Hoyt left the Padres and checked into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

In early February, he was arrested at the San Ysidro border, trying to carry across Quaaludes and Valium. And he was arrested a week later for running a red light and carrying a switchblade knife and marijuana cigarettes. He spent 30 days in the rehabilitation center, came back, pitched brilliantly in relief, but then got scalded by the San Francisco Giants in one game, 18-1. He was mediocre the remainder of the season.

Hoyt was arrested again in October, again trying to cross the border with Valium tablets. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail. His future as a Padre and as a major league ballplayer is in jeopardy.

A Cooked Goose: It didn’t help that the team was playing poorly. It didn’t help that he was pitching poorly. It didn’t help that the team owner decided one day to take his beer away.

Rich Gossage finally exploded. He said owner Joan Kroc was “poisoning the world with her (McDonald’s) hamburgers.” He said team president Ballard Smith was “gutless and spineless.” Later, on Aug. 29,, he said Smith was worse than Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and listens only “to what mom (Kroc) says.”

Smith decided then to suspend Gossage for the rest of the season. Goose appealed. It was headed for an arbitrator when Gossage decided to apologize and was reinstated to the team. Everybody was friends again. On the outside, anyway.

Golden Gwynn: It happened on Aug. 25 in New York. Everybody was watching back in the Big Apple when Tony Gwynn, the Padre right fielder, threw out three Mets on the basepaths. He also hit three singles. He also stole two bases. He also made a running catch. It all paid off after the season when Gwynn received his first Gold Glove award. He said he cherished this more than his batting title in 1984, because he said he used to be the worst fielder around.

But 1986 was more for Gwynn than just gold-gloved defense. He finished third in the batting race (.329); he stole five bases in one game; he hit a career-high 14 homers. He was an all-star. He was the best Padre.

Anyone Want a Team?: After the season, Kroc announced the Padres were for sale. But she stressed the team would stay in San Diego, that she preferred to sell it to local interests.

Steve Garvey was interested. Garvey, the Padre first baseman with one year remaining on his contract, began trying to put a group together to buy the club, and word leaked out to the media. This made headlines, naturally.

However, Kroc and Smith were angry at Garvey for going so public with his intentions. So, privately, there was a rift between Garvey and the Padre front office, and insiders said Kroc would never sell the team to Garvey, even if he found the money to buy it.

But who else would buy it? Someone with $65 million.

Jack-Of-All-Trades: Jack McKeon, the Padre general manager, vowed to clean house. In a way, he did.

He traded catcher Terry Kennedy to Baltimore for pitcher Storm Davis and then pulled off the blockbuster of the winter baseball meetings. He sent his best power hitter, Kevin McReynolds, and reliever Gene Walter to the world champion Mets for three young players with potential: center fielder Stan Jefferson, third baseman Kevin Mitchell and 20-year-old phenom outfielder Shawn Abner. He also got two minor league pitchers.

COLLEGES

Weekend in the Sun: San Diego State’s 1985-86 basketball team struggled to a 1-9 preseason season record with 6-foot 8-inch senior center Steffond Johnson injured. When Johnson returned, the Aztecs came alive in a weekend series at home in late January. First, SDSU defeated New Mexico. Then, Johnson led the Aztecs to a 67-66 win over 17th-ranked Texas El Paso, the game won on Creon Dorsey’s last second 23-foot jumper. Johnson had 32 points and 15 rebounds in the two victories.

Perfect: The University of San Diego women’s basketball team connected on 24-of-24 free throws in a 78-59 victory over Nevada-Reno at the USD Sports Center Jan. 25 to set an NCAA record.

Good Year, Long Day: The University of San Diego men’s basketball team had finished its best season ever at the Division I level when it gathered at the USD Sports Center for a late Sunday afternoon practice. The players did practice, but they were more interested in getting a phone call and an invitation to the NIT. The call never came, however, and USD had to settle for a 19-9 season.

Hot Wat: Anthony Watson scored a school-record 54 points as SDSU beat United States International University, 138-93. The game ball was auctioned for $1,000 at SDSU’s awards banquet, and the buyer gave the ball back to Watson.

On Getting Attention: The San Diego State track team was in the spotlight in late March but not in a way it liked. Athletic Director Fred Miller suspended the men’s and women’s teams for six days because of alleged use of anabolic steroids by some athletes. Miller ordered each athlete to be tested for drugs, a process that was held up two days because of miscommunication between SDSU and the UCLA Medical Center. Finally, after the athletes agreed to testing, Miller reinstated the teams.

Taking the Long Road Back: San Diego State’s baseball team was 1-8 in the Western Athletic Conference before staging a remarkable comeback to win its first conference title. SDSU started its road to the title by sweeping a triple-header from Utah in Salt Lake City and ultimately won 12 consecutive games at home, including a four-game sweep of Hawaii the final weekend of the season. SDSU capped its amazing run by winning the double-elimination WAC Tournament at Smith Field, beating Hawaii, 10-2, in the final game.

Staying Alive: SDSU drove 86 yards in the final minute with no timeouts remaining to defeat Colorado State, 27-26, and keep its Western Athletic Conference championship hopes alive.

“It’s kind of indescribable,” Coach Denny Stolz said. “You only have a few of those in a lifetime.”

Hurdling the Cougars: The Aztecs won their first WAC football championship since entering the conference in 1978 by defeating Brigham Young, 10-3. BYU, which had a 10-year championship reign halted, was held without a touchdown for the first time in 10 years.

Figure This One Out: Quarterback Todd Santos was second team All-WAC at quarterback, but finished second to Colorado State running back Steve Bartalo in balloting for WAC Offensive Player of the Year.

Costly Goal: United States International University soccer player Cem Er, racing toward a bouncing ball, suffered a small tear in heart after a collision with the Cal State Los Angeles goalkeeper.

Er, who underwent open-heart surgery, was out of the hospital in less than two weeks.

SOCKERS

Going, Going, Gone: The Sockers sold forward Steve Zungul to the Tacoma Stars for a reported $200,000. Zungul was the leading scorer in the MISL with 28 goals and 33 assists at the time of the sale. Socker managing general partner Bob Bell said money and particularly the salary cap that would be implemented in the 1986-87 season were the primary reasons for the transaction.

Only in the MISL: Tacoma Stars President John Best agreed to let Zungul play a farewell home game with the Sockers a day after the sale.

“Let him get injured,” joked Socker midfielder Brian Quinn. “That way, he’ll stay for the rest of the season.”

One for the Thumb: Trailing three games to one in the best-of-seven championship series, the Sockers won three straight games to capture their fifth straight indoor championship. On May 27, in front of a sellout crowd of 12,881 at the Sports Arena, the Sockers beat the Strikers, 5-3, in Game 7.

Socker midfielder Brian Quinn--as inspirational as he was brilliant throughout the championship series--had two goals and an assist in the final game. Quinn, who had 13 goals and 10 assists in 15 playoff games and five goals and two assists in the championship series, was named the playoffs’ most valuable player.

Red or Burgundy Ferrari?: Socker midfielder Branko Segota was 55 minutes away from becoming a millionaire Dec. 16. Segota was expected to sign a six-year contract worth $1.25 million . . . plus a Ferrari. It would have been the longest and most lucrative contract in the history of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

At 11:05 a.m., Segota called Socker managing general partner Bob Bell to say he would not be at the scheduled noon press conference. He had decided not to sign.

“Branko is acting childish and immature,” said Hal Kolker, who was representing Segota. “We made him a millionaire and he didn’t like the color of his Ferrari. I saw him yesterday and all he said was that he wanted a real red Ferrari instead of a burgundy one.”

PREPS

Champs, Again: The Point Loma High girls’ basketball team won its third straight Division I basketball championship in March at Oakland. Led by Terri Mann, the Pointers defeated Sacramento Grant, 56-50, in the finals.

In three years, Point Loma has compiled an 87-1 record under Coach Lee Trepanier.

Three for Poway, Not Oceanside: Dominick Johnson scored 28 points and Jud Buechler added 27 at the Sports Arena March 8 to lead Poway High School to a 74-66 win over Serra and its third consecutive section 3-A championship.

Earlier in the day, Oceanside High failed in its bid for a third-straight 2-A title, losing to El Camino, 61-35.

Victory, at Long Last: It took three days for the Bonita Vista High baseball team to beat Valhalla in the first round of the 3-A playoffs in May. Bonita Vista originally won the game, 4-2. However, because of a protest by Valhalla Coach John Marlow, the end of the game had to be replayed with Valhalla leading, 2-1, in the sixth inning. Communication problems held up the replayed game until three days after the original. Finally, Bonita Vista scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win, 3-2.

Sibling Rivals: Brothers Carl and Michael Chang of San Dieguito get together nearly everyday to play a little tennis. And June 4 was no different, except that the two were battling for the San Diego Section tennis title. Second-seeded Michael, 14, and an eighth-grader playing on the San Dieguito varsity squad, defeated his 17-year-old brother, top-seeded Carl, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7).

Michael became the youngest player to win the section singles title.

Beginner’s Luck?: As a freshman, Eileen Maul went out for the diving team at Santana High School “just for fun,” never dreaming that she would be good enough to compete in the section championships. But last May, Maul, as a sophomore, won her second consecutive title.

Maul only spent 30 minutes a day practicing diving. She spent two hours daily training for her other sport, gymnastics, in which she earned a second-place in the finals, a week after the diving championship.

Best in the Land: Cross-country is the only sport to have a national champion at the high school level and San Diego High’s Marc Davis, 16, won that title in the Kinney National Cross Country Championships Dec. 13. His time of 14:38.1 over the Morley Field course was only 1.3 seconds off the record time of 14:36.8 set by Reuben Reina (San Antonio) in 1985.

Jorgensen: Young and Swift: Only a sophomore, Vista High’s Kira Jorgensen is well on her way to making a national name for herself in cross-country. Jorgensen, 15, was the top underclass finisher in the Kinney championships, placing fourth overall with a time of 16:55.7. A year ago, as a freshman, she finished 14th. As the top underclass finisher this year, she likely will be the top-rated girl cross-country runner in the nation a year from now.

From the Surf to the Murph: The Fallbrook High School football team began its season in Hawaii and ended it at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, where it upset Palomar League rival Vista, 28-14. Fallbrook dominated throughout the game and slowed Vista’s All-County running back Tommy Booker. Fallbrook quarterback Scott Barrick, the best passer in the state at season’s end, was 22 of 31 for 335 yards and 2 touchdowns.

A First in Volleyball: Francis Parker’s girls’ volleyball team gave San Diego its first state volleyball championship as the Lancers lost only one game in three matches to capture the Division III (small school) state title.

Parker (31-2) was led by Tracy Hughes, who had 71 kills in the three state title games and finished the season with a school record 491.

The Biggest Upset: The Serra High field hockey team entered the San Diego Section title match against Fallbrook with an 86-match win streak and a seven-year grip on the championships. But after 90 minutes of regulation and two overtimes--called flickoffs--Fallbrook had a 2-1 victory and its first section title since 1976.

MISCELLANY

For Peete’s Sake: Calvin Peete won the Tournament of Champions at the La Costa Country Club in the easiest of fashions in January. Peete broke the tournament record by six strokes, shooting a 21-under-par 267 to beat second-place Mark O’Meara by six shots.

Bubka Says Nyet: The biggest news at the Michelob Invitational indoor track meet wasn’t who was going to compete, but who wasn’t.

Although meet director Al Franken offered world record holder Sergei Bubka $3,000 to appear and another $3,000 if he broke his world record, the pole vaulter said no. Bubka had set the world record of 19-5 3/4 two days earlier at the Times/GTE Indoor Games.

With Bubka out, Johnny Gray of the Santa Monica Track Club stole the show by setting a world record in the 1,000-yard run with a time of 2:04.39. Also, Jackie Anderson of Mount Miguel High School set a national prep record in the triple jump with a leap of 41-0 1/2.

Black’s Big Day: Corey Black, a 17-year old apprentice jockey, had a day to remember Aug. 31 at Del Mar. Black rode five winners that day, the most by an apprentice jockey at Del Mar since 1966. Included in Black’s victory was a win aboard Brave Raj in the $199,825 Del Mar Debutante. Black wound up as the meet’s second-leading rider behind Patrick Valenzuela.

No Miller Time: Chip Hanauer’s Miller American entered the Miller High Life Thunderboat Regatta on Mission Bay with a 569-point lead in the overall standings, but failed to qualify for the finals for the first time since his first unlimited race in Miami in 1976. Hanauer’s quest ended when Miller American caught on fire in a qualifying heat late Sunday morning, just hours before the final race.

A crowd of more than 100,000 watched Ron Armstrong’s Miss Bahia win the race with a speed of 118.692 m.p.h. The Van Nuys-based Miss Bahia, sponsored by the Bahia Hotel in San Diego, led from start to finish to give Armstrong his first career victory.

One From the Heart--Running on familiar ground, Thom Hunt of Pacific Beach easily won the Holiday Bowl Heart of San Diego Marathon in a time of 2:12.26. Hunt, who went to Patrick Henry High School, set a San Diego record on the new course, breaking Rich Brownsberger’s mark of 2:14.02.

Janine Aiello of San Francisco won the women’s race, also in record time. Aiello led from the 10-mile mark and finished the race in 2:34.34.