THE YEAR THAT WAS : 1991 : A Light-Hearted Look at the Quotes and Musings of the Region’s Sports Personalities

JANUARY

Mopping Up the Opposition 2--Royal High water polo Coach Steve Snyder, on the school’s lack of interest in sports, including going 23 years without a trophy case for its athletic teams: “I wound up storing our trophies in a box in a closet.”

Well, No, Not for You 6--Heavyweight fighter Rocky Pepeli of Burbank, a heavy-handed knockout puncher: “I knew I had to knock everyone out to build some interest. Luckily, that was never much of a problem.”

And I Especially Like That I’m Not One of Them 6--Joe Goossen, Pepeli’s trainer, asked what he liked most about his fighter: “What I like most about Rocky Pepeli is that he knocks people out.”

Not Either One of Them? 20--The Master’s College basketball Coach Mel Hankinson, on the non-effort in recruiting nationally known prep star Joe Jon Bryant of North Carolina: “We couldn’t even talk to Joe Jon.”

You Won’t Have That Problem Anymore 20--Bryant, who transferred to The Master’s after two stormy years at Richmond University, on his problems with Richmond Coach Dick Tarrant and mandatory Sunday practices: “That would not allow me to go to church.”

FEBRUARY

Hey, This Is a Newspaper, Not Television 7--Cal State Northridge volleyball player Neil Coffman, comparing his team to USC: “They’re like this (moving his hand in a steady line) and we’re like this (making violent wave motions with his hand).”

Pasta the Ball to Me 8--Rome-raised Monte Marcaccini, who teamed with brother Giancarlo on the Notre Dame High basketball team: “We tell each other plays in Italian so the other team can’t understand. Like, ‘I’m gonna lob it up to you this time.’ ”

Now That’s an Injury 9--Faith Baptist High basketball Coach Stuart Mason, on an injury to one of his players: “He might be able to come back for the playoffs, but it was a very bad broken nose. It’s still up in the air.”

A Resounding Miss 12--Taft High’s Cornell Hill, who banged a dunk attempt off the bottom of the rim: “I was there, but I don’t know what happened.”

So These 3 Athletes Are Sitting in a Bar . . . 15--Taft’s Hill, again: “Some people might be funny at telling jokes, but I’m not good at that. I’m good at sports.”

MARCH

And That’s My Final Offer 1--Chatsworth High basketball Coach Gary Shair, on the possibility of some coaches losing their salary: “I love coaching. But if you’ll do it for nothing, they’ll pay you nothing.”

C’mon, Beat Us by 100 . . . I Dare Ya 6--North Hollywood High basketball Coach Steve Miller, after his team was wasted by 41 and 33 points in games against Fremont: “I’m not impressed with their half-court offense. I’m not sold on their offense at all.”

A Drive to the Wall . . . Oops, There Is No Wall 9--Mathias Winterrath, catcher on Germany’s Cologne Cardinals, who played against The Master’s and Cal Lutheran during a U.S. tour, on the language non-problem: “When you hear a baseball coach talk, it has nothing to do with regular English.”

Lending a Helping Paw 15--San Fernando High baseball Coach Steve Marden, on players Jose (Dog) Nunez and Damacio (Bear) Mendoza: “Both of them have bad ankles and I have to tape them up before games. I feel like a veterinarian.”

Like, What Did You Say, Dude? 26--CSUN Athletic Director Bob Hiegert, defending his school after a national survey that placed it 260th of the 262 schools studied in athlete-graduation rates, pointing out that it takes CSUN students an average of 6 1/2 years to earn the traditional four-year degree: “People are just not moving through in a timely fashion.”

APRIL

It Only Hurts When My Assistant Laughs 4--Jody Robinson, CSUN assistant baseball coach, after Coach Bill Kernen slipped on a staircase at USC’s Dedeaux Field and injured his ribs: “He got a 9.5 from the U.S. judge, an 8.9 from the Russian. The USC coaches gave him a 10.”

Barnum and Baseball 6--Westlake baseball Coach Rich Herrera, after his team’s sixth consecutive loss amid a batch of errors, including two dropped fly balls by an outfielder and a dropped popup by the pitcher: “You can’t find a tent big enough for our circus.”

Duck, Coach, Here Comes the Changeup 8--San Fernando baseball Coach Steve Marden, after relief pitcher Scoody Woods’ first pitch bounced five feet in front of home plate: “Hey, was that the curve?”

Congratulations! It’s a Baseball Game 10--Chatsworth baseball Coach Tom Meusborn, after pacing the halls of a maternity ward as his team played a game without him and his wife gave birth to their first child: “At about 3 o’clock I thought, ‘Well, the game is starting now.’ At about 3:20 I thought, ‘Well, the first inning should be over by now.’ ”

And at the Other Two? 12--Westlake Coach Rich Herrera, recalling a football game at his school when the Warriors were 2-8. As the national anthem was being played he turned to a spectator and said, “We always lose when they play this song.”

Tennis Is Easy 14--Bert Burnham, 81, of Van Nuys, who still plays tournament tennis and is married to a woman 47 years younger: “Playing tennis at my age, I’m not sure that’s so unusual. But being married to a 34-year-old woman, I know that’s unusual.”

Gone Researchin’ 16--Steve Abel of Ventura, avid angler and the manufacturer of the world’s most expensive fly-fishing reel: “Time spent fishing is the most important time I can spend for my business. It’s research.”

That’s the Great Thing? 19--Doug Hirt of Panorama City, after boating two king salmon during a rare run of the fish off Ventura: “The great thing is, I didn’t even have to drop everything to go fishing. I’ve been out of work for two months.”

MAY

Whiff-Whiff-Whiff 4--Village Christian High baseball Coach Mike Henzie, whose team was batting .240 and striking out at a record clip, asked whether the team still had fans: “Fans? We are a fan.”

Geez, All We Did Was Cheat 10--Montclair Prep Athletic Director Greg Reece, on a proposal to banish his team from the Alpha League after it was found guilty of recruiting football players: “I had a feeling something like this would be brought up. We’re not going to let this go without a fight.”

That’s K-E-N. . . 13--Pepperdine baseball Coach Andy Lopez, after his team was beaten by CSUN pitcher Ken Kendrena: “If you wanted to see determination without looking it up in the dictionary, all you had to do was look at Kendrena.”

Ohhh, Like, Gag Yourself With a Batting Glove 20--El Toro High baseball Coach Dan DeLeon, on his pitcher, Marc VerWayne, after he had defeated favored Rio Mesa in a playoff game: “He’s only a sophomore, but he has great composure. He has poise to the max.”

Any Lower And You’d Need A Shovel. . . 25--Trainer Joe Goossen, on the early years of the now-successful Ten Goose Boxing Club of Van Nuys: “You’ve heard of starting at the bottom? We practically started underground.”

Are We Cheating? Absolutely 29--Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch, despite a newspaper photograph showing his players hitting blocking sleds after 3 p.m. in the off-season, in violation of Southern Section rules: “Are we using footballs after that time? Absolutely not.”

JUNE

Be Thankful 6--Granada Hills High basketball Coach Bob Johnson, criticizing the recruiting efforts of Cal State Northridge and its coach, Pete Cassidy: “They’ve never bothered to look (at Granada Hills High), never. They’ve never contacted us about one player. We’re one mile away and they aren’t recruiting us at all.”

Mediocre Would Be a Nice Change 6--Hart High basketball Coach Greg Herrick, blasting the Cal State Northridge recruiting efforts: “They have Division I aspirations with Division III attitudes. Recruiting the neighborhood is probably the first step, and until they make the first step they’ll be mediocre at best.”

Terrific. Just Don’t Fly Over My Pool 8--Ludwig von der Luhe of Burbank admits that he often goes hang-gliding with his pet German shepherd.

We Guess Not 12--Pepe Reilly of Glendale, the national amateur boxing champion, speaking before he was stripped of the title because of steroid use, on his weight gain from 119 to 147 pounds in 12 months: “I’ve been eating a lot more and working out. I guess it was just one of those growth spurts.”

Rollerblading, Rollerblading 14--From a strongly worded press release from Rollerblade, Inc., manufacturers of the new skates: “Never use the Rollerblade name as a verb.”

Funny Thing, Though, His Brother Did 15--Thousand Oaks High football Coach Bob Richards, on coaching identical twins Matt and Greg Buchanan: “Last season, Matt . . . I think it was Matt. Maybe it was Greg. Well, I can’t remember if it was Matt or Greg, but one of them had a bad ankle and shoulder and still didn’t miss a day of practice.”

I Hate It When That Happens 20--Mike Groff of Studio City, who has raced in the Indianapolis 500, on a crash in 1984: “Wasn’t much, really. Had a crash and broke my back. Within a few weeks I felt OK.”

And I Mean All Year Long 22--Brian Stiman, an assistant football coach at Canyon High who was photographed coaching some of the school’s players through a workout during the off-season, a violation of Southern Section rules, after Coach Harry Welch faced a possible 12-month suspension: “They made a decision to suspend Harry and didn’t think about what’s going to happen to the kids. Those kids live and die for Harry Welch.”

JULY

And My Kids Don’t, Either 4--Wayne Bryan of Camarillo, on the emphasis he places on tennis for his tournament-tested 13-year-old twins, Mike and Bob: “We have tried to create a world that is totally tennis. We attend matches, watch it on television, and all their heroes are tennis players. People say it’s brainwashing, but we don’t agree.”

Fore in the Morning 5--Gary Peterson, organizer of a night golf tournament at Vista Valencia in which glow-in-the-dark balls are used: “We’ve lost a few people out there. They wander off and get disoriented. I have to go out and lead them back.”

At What? 6--Don Burroughs of Ventura, who played in the NFL from 1955 to 1964: “Yes, players today are bigger and faster. But I feel the men I played with were better.”

And Sand in Your Wetsuit Is a Bummer, Too 13--Surfer Ron Edwards of Ventura, on the territorial battles among surfers claiming areas of the beach: “There’s a soul-surf attitude in the water here.”

Just Needed a Little (Whack) Convincing 14--National amateur heavyweight boxing champion John Bray, on his job as an apprentice private investigator and bodyguard: “One time I had to escort a kid into a drug rehab center. And he was not gonna go.”

Here’s Why: Horses Are Stupid 18--Gaby Salick, 17, junior show jumper from Thousand Oaks, on horses: “Shadows make the horses spooky. I don’t know why.”

Why Not Mop Up Harry? 17--Canyon High Principal Bill White, after a proposed one-year suspension of Coach Harry Welch was reduced to 5 1/2 months for allegedly running an illegal practice: “I’m not the commissioner. I’m not dealing the cards. I’ve got to sit here and mop up the mess.”

Yeah, for the School That’s the Ticket 17--Suspended Canyon football Coach Harry Welch: “I will fight this if it’s in the best interests of the school and the community.”

AUGUST

Geez, Who’ve You Been Fighting? 2--National amateur boxing champion John Bray of Van Nuys, after a gun he was cleaning accidentally discharged, sending a bullet into his open mouth and out his cheek but causing remarkably little damage: “The doctors told me an inch or two to the right and it would have blown my head off. It didn’t even chip a tooth. I’ve felt much worse than this after some of my fights.”

Busting Their Chops 4--Frankie Albert, 71, of Glendale, a seven-year star for the San Francisco 49ers after World War II and later the team’s coach, on why he gave up that job: “We lost our privacy. My wife would go to the butcher shop after we lost a game and the guy would say, ‘Good morning, Mrs. Albert. I lost $5 on the 49ers yesterday.’ Then he’d give her a bad piece of meat and send her home. That was no life.”

Sort of Like Your Football Coach? 6--Nancy Sparks of Canyon Country, a supporter of embattled Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch who was suspended and then reinstated for allegedly holding an illegal team workout: “The youth of this country are taught fair play. Yet the Southern Section, which governs all Southern California high school sports programs, has no such ethics. It seems to be at liberty to make up rules as it sees fit.”

Except People Watch Baseball 8--Former Dodger third baseman Ron Cey, on his new love, racquetball: “Racquetball and baseball are similar in so many ways.”

Sure, but Let’s See You Parallel Park 9--Mindy Drake of Palmdale, on the resentment she has faced competing in the male-dominated world of auto racing: “I think it sort of kills their egos. It’s hard enough to get beat, but when you get beat by a woman, it’s a little harder.”

A Spokes-Woman 14--Cyclist Amanda Henry of Thousand Oaks, on the dangers of the sport: “I’ve had a few concussions. You go down, you hit your head. It’s kind of acceptable.”

Just Like, Unfortunately, That Practice Session 17--Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch, bringing his battle to court over his suspension for an illegal, off-season practice session by his football team: “Whether we win or lose, what’s good about America is going to happen out in the open.”

Whew, Glad That’s Done 19--Boxing trainer Joe Goossen, after a tough fight by junior lightweight contender Gabriel Ruelas of Arleta: “He did what had to be done, but maybe he could have done more of what needed to be done.”

SEPTEMBER

And There’s Something Else I Wanted to Mention 1--Former pro boxer--now boxing trainer--Jim Tunney of Newbury Park, distant relative of the late heavyweight legend Gene Tunney, to one of his fighters: “You punch like a girl.”

Ah, That’s It 1--Angela Brenton, the person Tunney was taunting: “I am a girl.”

If It Didn’t Kill Him 10--Village Christian High football Coach Mike Plaisance, on 6-foot-4, 140-pound quarterback Eric Weisel: “If he swallowed an olive he’d look pregnant.”

Break a Kid the Give, C’mon 11--Kennedy High football Coach Bob Francola, on linebacker Bobby Rodgers, who a year earlier made an interception, got spun around and returned it 82 yards into the wrong end zone: “The players ride him about it constantly.”

And You Can’t Block, Either 14--Bill Norton, Pierce College football coach, on the flood of would-be players: “We’ll get a receiver who can’t run and can’t catch and we’ll say, ‘Son, you’re not going to play much,’ and the guy’ll say, ‘Well, I’m going over to Moorpark College then.’ I’ll say, ‘Good idea. I’m sure they want receivers who can’t catch over there.’ ”

Next Time, Just Set the Alarm 18--Boxer John Bray of Van Nuys, the national amateur heavyweight champion, on his brush with death when a gun he was cleaning discharged, sending a bullet into his mouth: “Everything has changed. I just think how lucky I was. By all rights, I should have died that night. This, I think, was a wake-up call.”

Maybe They Could Use an Extra Practice or Two 25--Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch, suspended but then reinstated through a court injunction during the summer after his team had conducted an illegal, off-season practice, on the team’s 0-1-1 start: “It may be that the summer has really damaged these kids. They are emotionally spent.”

OCTOBER

And It Would Have Been Just as Exciting 3--Jim Yabsley, crewman on a winning boat from the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, bragging about the club’s performance in the Ventura Cup sailing races: “We could have stayed tied up to the dock and still won.”

And That Can Be Frustrating 13--Cal Lutheran football Coach Joe Harper, after his team fell to 1-5: “We are extremely frustrated. I am extremely frustrated. The only thing that cures frustration is success.”

No, Ewe Grab It 13--Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch, after a bighorn sheep, the mascot of opponent Millikan High, broke loose and wandered onto the field during a game between the teams: “The trainer runs over and yells at us, ‘Grab it by the horns.’ I’m thinking, ‘ You grab it.’ ”

Sounds Ready for a Pro Career 25--Russell White, Cal running back and former Crespi High star, blasting his high school for, among other things, failing to reschedule its graduation ceremony in 1989 to accommodate him. He was running in a track meet that day. “I know it’s the majority over the individual, but that bothered me. They couldn’t find it in their hearts to move the graduation. That was important to me and they couldn’t accommodate me.”

But This Isn’t Brain Surgery 27--Greg Haugen, a two-time world champion boxer, preparing for a bout at the Country Club in Reseda: “You’re only born with so many brain cells. You don’t get any more. And boxing isn’t the way to keep them.”

NOVEMBER

Ooooh, Poor Choice of Words 3--Bob Burt, Cal State Northridge football coach, after a 56-28 thrashing by Southern Utah: “We stunk. I will never let our football team forget this game so long as I am coaching here.”

Unless He’s Really Big or Fast 5--Rick Rezinas, principal at Oxnard High, on alleged preferential treatment of the school’s football players by teachers: “I have made it very clear to our teachers that it is not in anybody’s best interests to abide by the rules only during an athlete’s eligibility period.”

‘Vince! Over Here!’ Said the Defensive Back 6--Birmingham High quarterback Vince Lampkin, admitting that he is nearsighted and has trouble seeing his receivers during night games: “It’s pretty bad, I’d have to say. I can see a body. I can’t see numbers, but I can see him .”

Not Being a Good Team, Etc. 17--Cal State Northridge linebacker Ken Vaughn, after a dismal season ended with a 55-12 beating by Cal State Sacramento: “It was the little things that hurt us. Not listening to coaches. Not getting to meetings on time.”

Stuck Between a Rock and a Typo 23--A press release from Cal Lutheran, quoting football Coach Joe Harper about an upcoming opponent: “They always seem to play well against us. We’re not going to take them for granite.”

DECEMBER

Take a Peek at This 4--Hart High basketball Coach Greg Herrick, on his plans for 6-foot-5, 250-pound center Ali Peek: “There are going to be no secrets. We are going to dribble it down the floor and pass it in to Ali. There is no one who can stop him one on one.”

Starring the Village People 5--Village Christian High Coach Mike Plaisance, after his team turned a 1-4-1 record into a playoff berth: “I even have a title for my movie script. It’s called ‘Up From the Grave.’ It’s about a football team with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.”

A Bit of Bad This, a Piece of Bad That 7--Cal Lutheran basketball Coach Mike Dunlap, after his team’s 0-4 start: “We’re a bits-and-pieces team.”

Ha-Ha-Choooo! 8--Cal State Northridge basketball Coach Pete Cassidy, after flu devastated his team: “It hits people overnight. It’s funny.”

Ah, Like, No 9--Kennedy High linebacker Alex Sawatzke, on tackling: “It’s fun to be the aggressor, not the aggressee, or whatever. Know what I mean?”

He Should Have Fought 6 7/8 10--George Foreman, before thrashing Reseda Country Club veteran heavyweight Jimmy Ellis, on how the match was made: “I guess they got a lot of names and put them into a hat and Jimmy Ellis came out.”

And Dribble the Ball Off Your Foot 14--Cal State Northridge basketball Coach Pete Cassidy, after his team was routed by Boise State and fell to 0-7: “Sometimes you gotta turn a corner.”

And Then I Woke Up 15--Cassidy again, after dropping to 0-8 with a 17-point loss to Utah: “We played hard and we played well. We are showing improvement.”