HOW THEY’RE DOING : Harry’s Life Is One for the Books

Emile Harry’s innermost thoughts have stretched far beyond the limits of the football field, where stardom, or waivers, can be a fingertip catch away.

When he attended Fountain Valley High School, Harry caught touchdown passes and wrote poetry.

At Stanford, he caught touchdown passes, studied political science and worked as a computer consultant.

Now a wide receiver with the Kansas City Chiefs, Harry recently completed a book titled “Flight Above the Moon.” He still catches touchdown passes, only not as often as he used to.

“The book’s a story of life and death, and it all takes place on an airplane,” said Harry, who finished it last year and hopes to have it published.

“It’s written from the Judeo-Christian perspective. It’s about this intellectual snob who’s in a life-threatening situation on the plane, and he learns about life along the way. It’s a good introspective look.”

Harry wrote the book early in his NFL career, when he was struggling to make it as a receiver.

“It’s all about the trials and tribulations that were going on in my life,” he said.

After playing five years in the NFL, Harry can take a step back and take a long look at where he has been. And where he’s going.

Harry, 27, has played most of his pro career as a reserve, wondering day-to-day if his name would be on a locker the next morning.

His best season was in 1989, when he filled in for injured Stephone Paige and caught 33 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns.

Harry has similar numbers, catching 32 passes for 403 yards and two touchdowns entering Sunday’s game at San Diego. The Chiefs (9-5), one game behind the Raiders, are trying to win their first AFC West title since 1971.

“I still don’t know how long the Chiefs want to keep me,” he said. “Every year they say, ‘He doesn’t have 4.3 (second) speed.’ But I’ve never had 4.3 speed, and I’ve played in this league for five years.

“I have my own opinion on why I’m here. I believe my talents haven’t changed much, other than some honing. The bottom line with me is that God is author and finisher of what I do.”

Harry’s NFL career started in 1985, when he was drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Falcons.

He was coming off a good career at Stanford, where he started three seasons and finished with 123 catches for 2,270 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was sidelined with injuries for most of his senior season.

But he was back in shape by the time he reported to the Falcons’ camp, and he impressed the coaches during the exhibition season as a receiver-kick returner. Harry was confident he would make the team.

Only four days before the start of the season, the Falcons traded for veteran receiver Charlie Brown of the Washington Redskins. Harry, now expendable, was cut.

“I had a $95,000 summer job,” Harry said.

Harry became one of the league’s wandering nomads, trying out with the 49ers, Chiefs and Redskins during the 1985 season.

He had a good feeling after his tryout with Kansas City. He signed a free-agent contract with the Chiefs for 1986.

During the off-season, he returned to Palo Alto, where he was renting an apartment, and began training with James Lofton, an all-pro receiver with the Green Bay Packers, and Kermit Washington, a former basketball player with the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers.

“Kermit is the most fit man I have ever known,” Harry said. “And James had played my position for many many years. I believe when you work with great players, you develop a great attitude. I just hung out with them and worked out with them.”

When the Chiefs broke camp in August, John Mackovic, the coach at the time, announced he would carry five receivers. Harry thought he had made the team.

Then Mackovic revised his plans just before the season, and Harry was the last player cut.

He kept in shape. He still had hopes of playing.

He got his chance a month into the season, when Chief receiver Anthony Hancock injured his knee and underwent surgery.

Harry filled Hancock’s roster spot and has been with the Chiefs since.

Fountain Valley Coach Mike Milner said the NFL was a “tough adjustment” for Harry.

“Playing in the NFL has a lot to do with ability, but also being in the right spot at right time,” Milner said. “When you think about the talented players walking on streets right now, there are a lot of them who could be playing in the NFL under the right situation. You have to find your niche.”

Harry found his with the Chiefs. He finished the 1986 season with nine catches for 211 yards and a touchdown. After missing 1987 with a shoulder injury, Harry has averaged 30 catches the last three seasons.

Harry’s hopes of NFL stardom started in Fountain Valley, where he played football with his friends as a kid.

He was the fourth of Alvin and Nilene Harry’s seven children. He and his younger brother, Carl, now a wide receiver with the Redskins’ developmental team, were the athletes in the family.

“Emile’s one of the best athletes who ever came through here,” said Milner, who has been at Fountain Valley for 19 years. r”If Emile would have picked up a tennis racket or a golf club, he could have done anything with it.”

Harry split time at quarterback and wide receiver as a junior. He was moved to wide receiver full-time as a senior when Matt Stevens took over at quarterback.

“I think Emile would have had a great future at quarterback if he had stayed there,” Milner said. “He had a great arm.”

And Harry wanted to stay at quarterback, but Milner convinced him his future was even brighter at wide receiver.

“Milner means so much to me,” Harry said. “He was the guy I listened to as a youth. So many guys on that team had talent but didn’t listen to what Milner told them.”

Harry was more effective as a receiver than a passer. As a senior, he had 52 catches for 1,141 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was named the Southern Section Big Five Conference player of the year.

“As a receiver, he could do anything,” Milner said. “He had courage and could run the crossing routes over the middle. He made the acrobatic catches. He has tremendous body control.”

Harry remembers high school well. He’s looking forward to his 10-year class reunion and hopes it won’t conflict with the football season.

“When I played, high school football was pure, unadulterated,” he said. “The guys I played with will always have a place in my heart.”

Life isn’t as carefree as it was when he was 17.

He and his wife, Sonia, bought a home in Kansas City. Their son, Judah-Michael, 11 months, keeps them busy. There are responsibilities, bills to pay.

And Harry knows that one day, playing football will no longer be a part of those responsibilities. He’s ready.

“When I’m done playing, I want to write,” he said. “That’s one of my favorite things to do.”

HARRY’S CAREER

Year Rec. Yds. Avg. Long TD 1986 9 211 23.4 53 1 1987 Missed with shoulder injury 1988 28 362 13.9 38 1 1989 33 430 13.0 25 2 1990 32 403 12.6 60 2 Total 102 1406 13.7 60 6