NOTEBOOK / SEAN WATERS : Saturday’s Senior Bowl Is Canceled After Financier Mims Backs Out

The Chris Mims Senior Bowl, scheduled for Saturday at Compton College, was canceled because Mims did not fulfill his financial obligation to the all-star football game, organizer Jerry Weiner said.

Weiner said he has made several attempts to contact Mims but has not heard from the former Dorsey High and current San Diego Charger lineman. Mims was in the third year of a four-year contract to sponsor the game.

“At no time did he advise me that he was not going to fund his share of the game as he has done since 1992,” Weiner said. “It’s a sad disappointment for the 90 players and approximately 60 cheerleaders who were going to be involved.

“Many of them have been terribly shocked and frustrated because they could not have the game.”

Mims was unavailable for comment.

Fairfax Coach Terrel Ray and his staff had organized and run practices for the West team last week. Among Westside players scheduled to compete were defensive back Kamon Minor (Fairfax), defensive tackle Jose Jimenez (Venice), linemen Gregory and Steven Samarge (Venice), linebacker Michael Weber (Kilpatrick), running backs Che Johnson and Chris Phillips (Dorsey), quarterback Jovon Jiles (Crenshaw) and lineman Norman Ysaguirre (Dorsey).

“This game is very important to the community because several players have received scholarships,” Ray said. “I don’t blame Mims because he has flipped for the bill for the last two games. Things happen in people’s lives, and you can’t always do the things you would like to do.”

*

Steven Pulley of St. Monica and Danny Ragsdale of Murphy were the top Westside athletes in the Air 7 Quarterback Challenge July 16 at Wilson High.

The event, organized by former Palisades High assistant Steve Clarkson, attracted 68 quarterbacks and their receivers from as far north as Sacramento’s Bear River High and as far south as San Diego Morse.

Quarterbacks were tested for throwing ability, accuracy to receivers during pass routes, scrambling techniques, rapid fire (two throws within 15 seconds) and read-and-react drills.

Kevin Feterik of Los Alamitos won the competition, tying or taking first in three of the five events.

Pulley, a two-year starting receiver, finished eighth and Ragsdale, a quarterback, was 27th.

Pulley caught 25 passes for 591 yards and nine touchdowns. In the fall, he will move to quarterback, where he is expected to replace Oscar Casillas as the Mariners’ starter.

Ragsdale passed 1,750 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior.

Former Carson coach Gene Vollnogle and former Palisades High standout Perry Klein, who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL draft, were among the judges.

*

After being named most valuable player in the Fairfax tournament, Danny Walker of Westchester continued his strong summer play at last week’s Nike Slam-N-Jam tournament in the South Bay.

Playing for top-seeded Values for a Better America, Walker scored 12 points, including three three-point baskets, in a 67-64 victory over New York Super Sophomores.

“I think I’m playing pretty well this summer,” said Walker, who was being watched closely by college coaches, including UCLA’s Jim Harrick and Arizona’s Lute Olson. “I’m trying to be unselfish and do things to help my team play well.”

Walker will be a junior in the fall.

Washington, D.C., beat Values, 64-62, in the first round of the winner’s bracket.

In the championship game, New York Riverside Church defeated Kansas City Blue, 56-53.