Countywide : A Special Bunch of Olympians

Jim Irving doesn’t roll his bowling ball down the alley--he launches it “like it’s on fire.” And more often than not, his straightforward approach pays off in flying pins and soaring scores.

Irving, 23, is one of 600 bowlers competing in a Special Olympics tournament this weekend at Regal Lanes in Orange. The competition kicks off this year’s Orange County Special Olympics events for the mentally retarded.

During his afternoon game, Irving scattered 122 pins with a two-handed, between-the-legs throwing style that resulted in several strikes and spares. He smiled broadly and said that a ball thrown properly down the lane should “burn it.”

Event coordinator Louis Jones said that because the Special Olympics emphasizes participation instead of competition, those who take part are often more sportsmanlike than “so-called normal people because they don’t get upset. Nobody loses, everybody wins,” he explained.

Other than that, Jones said, “they’re like typical kids.”

Former Los Angeles Ram quarterback Vince Ferragamo, wearing a black running suit, handed out awards to excited Olympians, shaking hands and hugging avid fans in the throng.

“Their motto is ‘Let me win. But if I can’t win, let me be brave in the attempt.’ That’s what all competition is about,” said Ferragamo, 36, who lives in Orange and has been a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics. “Some of the events bring tears to your eyes--just (because of) the camaraderie. It’s a beautiful thing. They can compete and do all the things that everybody else does.”

After accepting an award, 19-year-old Oscar De La Fuentes held his hand up to Ferragamo and yelled, “Gimme five, dude.”

Ferragamo complied and said with a grin, “Way to go, dude.”

Hundreds of competitors crowded around the bowling alley’s 35 lanes during the four-hour tournament. Many yelled encouragement to those awaiting their turn.

Wearing gray sweat pants and a surfing T-shirt, 18-year-old Tom Harger tossed a ball down the center of the lane, knocking over nine pins. On his return to his seat, he stopped to hug a spectator and slap hands with his teammates.

“It’s fun, it’s fun,” he said.

“They’re real friendly with each other, but just as competitive,” said Kerry Brins, a physical education teacher who works with students from University and Turtle Rock high schools in Irvine.

Their experience in the Special Olympics also helps the competitors make friends and gain self-esteem, Brins said.

“They’re more outgoing, more willing to use their language to speak. You can tell they feel a lot better about themselves. They’re more confident,” she said.

Lupe Coher, whose 18-year-old son had just completed his game, said she agrees. “I just love to see all these happy faces,” Coher said. “It’s wonderful to see them having a good time.”