Melsby Not One to Carp About Lack of Publicity

There are places in this world where Brad Melsby might feel more comfortable, places where his football star status would go virtually unnoticed. Fiji, for instance. Or Madagascar. Or the tiny Atlantic Ocean island of Tristan da Cunha, smack dab in the middle of nowhere.

But Fate, cruel Fate, saw to it that poor Brad Melsby wound up at Los Alamitos, one of the most prominent programs in the state. Why is this so bad? If you have to ask, you don’t know Melsby, who takes to the spotlight as Dracula takes to garlic. The center of attention is the last place he wants to be. Some players will do anything to make themselves known. Not Melsby. In a world of showboats, this kid’s a submarine.

Don’t believe it? Ask his mother. The poor woman has been trying to give her son a birthday party since he was 9 or 10. He won’t hear of it.

“I say, ‘But Brad, think of the presents!’ ” Darlene Melsby says. “But he just hates being the center of attention.”

Lately, he hasn’t had much choice. As Los Al’s No. 1 receiver (68 receptions for 1,119 yards), Melsby, a junior, can no longer hide from defensive backs as he did a year ago. Last season, Melsby played alongside senior standouts Don Ruberio and George Sagen in the Griffins potent run-and-shoot offense. Now, with 17 touchdown receptions, Melsby is two shy of tying the county single-season record set by Sagen last year.

Not that he cares. Individual statistics? Big whoop, Melsby says. The only concern for him is helping Los Al extend that 34-game unbeaten streak, one that’s on the line Saturday as Los Al meets Huntington Beach for the Division II championship. Melsby, who also plays free safety, will be among those trying to stop the unstoppable Tony Gonzalez, Huntington Beach’s 6-foot-6, 230-pound tight end/linebacker. A formidable task, to be sure.

“He’s so good,” Melsby said, awe in his voice. “Gonzalez is such a great athlete.”

Melsby, a Minnesota native, is asked if doesn’t consider himself a great athlete, too. He looks at you as if you asked the question in Swahili. This isn’t a kid who thinks of himself as one of the county’s best football players, not at all. He sees himself as someone who lucked out to be playing on the county’s top teams. “I just don’t think I do that much,” he says.

No? Let’s examine the Edison game of two weeks ago. Melsby didn’t do much there other than catch six passes for 124 yards, score three touchdowns and make a key fumble recovery. Last week against Fountain Valley? Melsby--Los Al’s only two-way player--had six receptions for 131 yards plus a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown. Boy, what a slacker.

Asked for his height and weight, Melsby--who is listed at 6-2, 181 and looks it--shrugs and says “six feet, 170 pounds, I guess.” He may be the first high school player in Orange County history to underestimate his size.

Melsby, a straight-A student, claims he doesn’t have that much interest in football. He says most times he would rather be fishing or watching TV. Actually, where most players pick up the newspaper the morning after a game hoping to see their name, Melsby heads straight for the fish count. He keeps a poster of fish above his bed. He says a dream day for him is to wake up, go fishing, have lunch, take a nap, and fish some more. “If he could go to college and major in fishing,” Darlene Melsby says, “he would.”

He fishes for anything--except compliments. That’s not the Brad Melsby way. If he could play football with a bag over his head, he’d probably try it. Anything to remain anonymous. Low profile? Any lower and he might sink out of sight.

Of course, it’s not as if he never lets loose. After scoring on a 50-yard pass play against Edison, Melsby saw teammate Mike McCullough running toward him for a congratulatory hug. Melsby, giving into the glory, took a step toward McCullough, raised his arms and . . . The two bumped helmets and stumbled to the ground. It was a touchdown dance only Chevy Chase could love.

One that might play better in Fiji.