Arrival of the Fittest Pays Off

A flock of tiny tumblers and four genuine sports stars rubbed well-toned shoulders with YMCA boosters in the plush confines of the Center Club in Costa Mesa on Sunday.

“A Sporting Good Time,” benefiting the Newport-Costa Mesa YMCA Center for Family Counseling, drew 150 guests at $150 each for cocktails and autographs, silent auction bidding, buffet dinner and a performance by budding local gymnasts ages 3 to 11. The party planners estimated proceeds at $20,000.

Muscling In

Former world heavyweight contender Ken Norton, fitness guru Jack LaLanne and Olympic medalists Dwight Stones and Sherri Howard mingled at cocktail hour--each projecting his or her own brand of charisma.

Norton, a county resident and owner of a gym in Lake Forest, brought along his son, Keith, and a playful attitude that offset his towering presence.

Asked his age, Norton glowered, squinted, growled.

“Two days older than baseball,” he said finally. Then he smiled sweetly and offered his giant palm for a handshake.

LaLanne, with wife Elaine on his arm, rattled off a condensed version of his inspirational life beginning in a Berkeley YMCA in the late ‘20s right up through his current workout regimen. (Swimming will be the fitness wave of the ‘90s, according to LaLanne; you read it here first.)

The ultra-slim Howard--who took home gold from the ’84 Olympics and silver from the ‘88--said she was working out six to eight hours every day near her home in Sylmar Hills.

“I’m a ’92 hopeful,” she said. “That means a lot of work.”

Stones, a former world record-holder in the high jump who now lives in Irvine and is a sports commentator for NBC, said he “really never had any personal connection with the YMCA” growing up in Glendale. “But the woman who called and asked me to do this had a really good pitch, so I’m here.”

Good Sport

Party organizer Diane Cruzen, with admirable candor, said that before planning the benefit she knew “nothing--make that less than nothing” about sports.

“We are talking about a group of women who know absolutely nothing about sports putting together an event that is all about sports,” Cruzen said. “My husband said, ‘Diane, whatever you do: Don’t try to make any funny remarks about sports when you’re talking with the athletes. Do not try to ad-lib a joke, OK? Because you do not have a clue.’ ”

Who’s Who

Cruzen’s committee included Ginny Wheeler, Juanita Madole, Helen Ramsay, Ann Lewis, Barbara Carver and Nina Feldman.

Among guests were Gail Smith Foncannon, director of the Y’s family counseling center; Jerry Nutter, president of the YMCA of Orange County; and George Scobas, who heads the Newport-Costa Mesa branch.