Ocean View’s Top Fan Cheers from Half a World Away

He lives in a land of ancient castles and age-old traditions, where the appetite for modern Western culture pervades everything but the past.

Century old wineries, hand-painted pottery, the annual autumn goose feast . . . This is, in part, what makes Pezinok, Slovakia, special. But resident Jan Boris is interested in something else entirely.

He calls it “World famous American high school basketball.” His No. 1 favorite team? The Ocean View High Seahawks.

How Boris, a 44-year-old junior high geography teacher, became interested in a boys’ basketball team half a world away is still a mystery to Ocean View Coach Jim Harris. All Harris knows is he received a three-page letter from Boris in January. It began:

“Dear Mr. Jim Harris,

“Let me send you the best regards from Pezinok, Slovakia, formerly (part of) Czechoslovakia. I wish you a most happy and successful year, 1993. Special best success in your coaching work, at basketball camps, the best health as well as happiness in the private life. My best New Year regards and wishes also of your family, of all coaches and players in your outstanding boys basketball team, one of the tops in very tough California HS competition and my favorite in the world famous American high school basketball . . .”

The letter goes on to praise Harris (“one of the best and most famous coaches in California and American HS basketball”), his son, Jim (“one of the best 3-point shooters in the American HS basketball today,”) and U.S. basketball in general (“the world’s absolute number one at all levels.”)

Boris writes that he, too, coaches basketball--specifically an under-12 boys’ team in a seven-team league in Bratislava, capital of the new nation--and would Harris be so kind as to write back with his favorite offensive and defensive strategies? Also, an autographed team photo or a souvenir uniform would be greatly appreciated.

“But please,” Boris writes, “(send) these most valuable things and souvenirs in the fall only, when I don’t make you any troubles with my great appeals.”

Harris plans to send Boris a Seahawk souvenir pack--including team uniform and school yearbook--when classes end in June. Until then, he’ll keep wondering how a man 9,000 miles away became so obsessed with Ocean View hoops.

“I’ve had a number of unusual things happen in my career, and this is definitely one of them,” Harris says. “In his words, I am most curious.”

As were we. Unfortunately, The Times wasn’t thrilled with the idea of sending a reporter halfway around the world for one measly column on high school sports, so the investigation had to be carried out via the U.S. and Slovak postal services. Here’s what was learned:

Boris first read about Harris from newspaper clippings sent to him by a friend in Los Angeles. UCLA men’s basketball team, Boris writes, is his absolute favorite, mostly because Richard Petruska of Slovakia is a Bruin forward. Boris says he once saw Petruska, in his junior high years, score 60 points in a game.

Boris grew up in Pezinok, population 21,000. Pezinok is famous for its wine; grapes were harvested there as early as the Middle Ages. The zamok , or castle, near the city is now a wine museum. Boris’ father is a farmer; his mother, a tailor. Boris is single; a fact his mother blames on her son’s interest with basketball.

“But perhaps, in the near months, I will make a (correction) on my mother’s opinion,” Boris says.

Although Slovakia is struggling since its Jan. 1 separation from the Czech Republic--unemployment, inflation and tensions between ethnic groups are among the county’s greatest concerns--Boris seems optimistic.

“It’s a very curious feeling,” Boris writes. “But I hope that Slovakia, as well as the Czech Republic will (have) health.”

Many of the traditional comforts remain the same, though. Markets are well-stocked, lunch carts still offer plenty of bryndzove halusky , a local dish of potato dumplings stuffed with sheep’s cheese, and the local kaviaren , or coffee house, remains a fairly cheery place. But Boris seems to be most happy about a particular form of home entertainment.

“I am so happy that since November 1989 revolution here we can now watch your famous college and NBA basketball on TV set,” he says.

And keeping up on Ocean View through the mail, he says, is almost as good. Some day, Boris hopes to meet “the famous American high school basketball coach” Jim Harris in person.

Harris isn’t sure if he’s more flattered or bewildered.

“It’s funny,” Harris says. “You know how coaches say, ‘There are a billion people in China who don’t care whether you win or lose?’ ”

“Well, I found one person from Slovakia who cares.”

As Boris might say, Samozrejme. Yes, indeed.

Barbie Ludovise’s column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Ludovise by writing her at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, 92626 or by calling (714) 966-5847.