Impact Players : Whether You Admire Courage of Bobby Hurley or a High School Coach, Many Can Inspire,Elevate Spirit

Who we are depends greatly on whom we follow.

In the course of a lifetime, this can be a very mixed bag.

Some of us admire those who are older (Bobby Kennedy, Bobby Knight, Bobby Sherman). Some admire those deemed infinitely more talented (George, Paul, John, Ringo, Donny and Marie).

We can look up to anybody.

We can be Nolan Ryan on the front lawn, throwing a baseball through a brick wall; Roman Gabriel on the schoolyard, throwing a football a mile downfield; or Michael Jordan on the driveway, throwing down a slam dunk.

We can place ourselves in the shoes of almost anyone important to us, and wonder what it was like to be Martin Luther King, Jesus Christ or Elvis holding court in front of an admiring throng.

These are fleeting moments of fantasy, given to those we admire, wonder about or respect--those who have influenced us in some way or another.

Bobby Kennedy? It goes without saying. Bobby Knight? To some, he seems like a jerk; others believe he stands for all the right things, at his core. Bobby Sherman? He was adored by teeny-boppers 25 years ago, but gains admiration today as a paramedic in Los Angeles, helping people.

We can admire anybody for any reason.

Sometimes, those we admire are a little closer to home. Like the youth baseball coach, who will work until nightfall because he knows how life is much like sports, and it’s impossible to succeed every time out. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

A lot of times it doesn’t take much to make an impact. Minute-long moments--sometimes little more than first impressions--can lead you to admire even those just beginning to make a name for themselves.

Take, for instance, these former high school athletes:

* Marina basketball player Jessica Trippet, who once telephoned a reporter to apologize after her coach rebuffed a postgame interview request.

* Brea Olinda basketball player Nicole Erickson, for her ability to perform under pressure.

* Huntington Beach football and basketball star Tony Gonzalez, for his amazing versatility.

* Woodbridge basketball player Jamie Oenning, for her ability to articulate perfect post-game quotes; her presence--on the court and off--was inspiring.

We are touched by everyone we come into contact with, even though it might not always be a positive touch. Whom we identify with says a lot about why we are who we are--like it or not.

In this installment of Prep Voices, The Times Orange County asks:

“What pro, amateur or high school sports figure(s) do you look up to and why?”

*

Earvin (Magic) Johnson has and exudes all the integrity and class a professional sports figure should. Sure, he has made mistakes in life, as all of us have, but he doesn’t blame others for those mistakes. He takes the onus on himself and tried to teach and educate others in the hope they can avoid those problems.

I look up to him because when you see the man and everything he does, you can tell it wouldn’t matter what he does for a living--ditch digger or superstar--he would be helping others whenever he could. That is what young athletes today need to see in their heroes, not the greedy, show-boat athletes who are emerging.

Kirk Johnson

Anaheim

(San Diego linebacker) Junior Seau is a good role model; when he plays, his effort is always 100%.

Cory Schoonover

Fullerton junior

(Notre Dame quarterback) Ron Powlus overcame injuries to become one of college football’s top quarterbacks; (16-year-old ice skating Olympic gold medalist) Oksana Baiul overcame numerous personal tragedies to become the youngest Olympic ice skating gold medalist ever, and (runner and New York City founder) Fred Lebow, even though burdened with brain cancer, remained a visionary and inspiration to amateur and professional runners everywhere.

These athletes in their own personal drive to excel in their sports also teach and epitomize what athletics and life are built on: belief in yourself, determination, spirituality, hard work, sacrifice and a genuine sense of humor.

Danny Chapin

Laguna Beach

Nicole Erickson (former Brea Olinda guard) because she always stayed after practice, always worked hard and never gave up. She worked to be the best player she could be, and that’s what I want to do--I want to be the best player I can be.

Jennifer Saari

Brea Olinda sophomore

I mostly look up to my sister (Jennifer Saari) because she’s a good player, and I want to be like her because she’s good and because she’s a good student.

Ashley Saari

Brea Junior High

The Duke program for putting education first and not taking any Prop. 48 athletes. And when it won the national championship a few years back and didn’t put up the banner because someone didn’t graduate. . . .

Then definitely Grant Hill because he stayed (at Duke) all four years. He handles himself with such class. He could have left early and made that much more money, but he stayed in school. He was quoted once as saying, ‘I live my life every day like I’m going to be President someday.’ I think all high school student/athletes should do that, too. They all have little kids watching what they do all the time.

Doug Gottlieb

Tustin senior

One of my heroes is Alexi Lalas, who was on the U.S. national soccer team that played in the 1994 World Cup. Alexi, with his carrot-top head and red goatee, is an individual. No matter what the score, he’s always willing to give it his all. He shows real sportsmanship and never gives up when the odds are against him.

Esmi Escrutia

Mater Dei freshman

Seeing that my cousin, George Mills, who has Down’s syndrome, is our water boy, this question definitely hits home for me. I look up to people who are able to overcome physical and mental handicaps. I respect individuals who are able to get the most out of their God-given abilities and don’t allow their deficiencies to stand in their way. George, who doesn’t need or ask for any sympathy, just wants to be part of the game and has found a way to give something back to our program. He helps keep things in perspective.

Mark Holman

Orange boys’ basketball coach

Jan Douty, my eighth-grade National Junior Basketball coach, was out there every day, working with us. It really helped me develop my fundamental basketball skills. I admire people who take time out of their day for me because time is such a precious thing.

Another person I look up to is (USC women’s basketball coach) Cheryl Miller because she is a basketball legend, has worked so hard for a long time and got what she wanted. She opened up the sport competitively and gave women the opportunity to play basketball. I really look up to people who strive for their goals.

Robynn Kuhlmann

Canyon senior

Chris St. Clair (former Sonora player, now at Cal State Fullerton) is the best I’ve ever played with in terms of worth ethic. I try to work as hard as he does all the time.

Chad Fister

Sonora senior

I like Brett Butler because he plays baseball with a little bit of softball to it; he bunts and does some slap hitting, and he’s not into hitting home runs but hitting for average.

I also admire Kristin Folkl, who was an All-American freshman at Stanford this year in volleyball and led them to the national championship, and now she’s playing basketball. She’s an awesome athlete in two sports in college and I want to be able to do that.

Marcy Crouch

Marina senior

I have two. The first is Jackie Joyner-Kersee not just because she is a track athlete but because she has asthma and always does her best.

The other role model I have is my dad because he is my coach. And as my coach he is there to support me and act as a role model.

Ashley Bethel

Mission Viejo freshman

The person I look at as a role model is A.C. Green. He has a lot of philosophies that I believe in too, his Christianity and all.

I like the fact he is a family-oriented person, a team player and never takes all the credit. He’s the type of player we rarely hear about because he gives the credit to other players.

Reggie Curry

Tustin senior

The athlete I admire most is Marie Philman, basketball and track star (at Edison). I could try to list all of her numerous awards--her MVP awards, all-county, All-CIF, all-everything, but it would be much too long.

What I respect and admire the most is that her success has not gone to her head. She is a very funny and unique person and a great friend.

Martita Emde

Stanford University

Jockey Laffit Pincay has distinguished himself for some 30 years as an outstanding member of the thoroughbred racing scene nationwide. He is a family man who has overcome family tragedy--the suicide of his first wife--and personal hardship--a lifetime battle with weight--in order to continue to perform with success in his chosen profession.

Eileen Gilmore

Yorba Linda

Charles Barkley is extravagant. He doesn’t want to be a role model, but he is anyway. He doesn’t care what people think. Every time he steps on the court, he gives 100%.

Brandi Freudenberg

El Modena senior

Deion Sanders because he plays two sports, like I do. He plays baseball and football and is very good at both. He is the only one that is successful at the professional level in more than one sport.

Rod Perry Jr.

Mater Dei sophomore

When I was a teen-ager in L.A. there was a high school sprinter from Huntington Beach named Eddie Morris. He was the fastest high school runner in the nation. He was running consistent 9.7 (seconds) 100-yard dashes. He was so far ahead of his time in those days, back in the late ‘30s, it was unbelievable.

Sid Hallburn

Huntington Beach

I look up to Orel Hershiser because he’s a great player, a great person and a great Christian. Not many people address that these days.

Debbie Ramm

La Habra junior

(Charlotte guard) Mugsy Bogues is one of the most inspirational athletes in my life. Being 5 feet 3 inches myself, it is even difficult playing basketball at the girls’ frosh-soph level because of the height disadvantage. Yet, Mugsy, who is also 5-3, worked hard and persevered throughout his life and finally reached his dream, the NBA. Through his example, I learned to persevere and to never give up when the odds are against you.

Laura Hernandez

Mater Dei freshman

I have three: (Dallas running back) Emmitt Smith because he is relentless, (San Antonio forward) Dennis Rodman because he plays reckless and (San Francisco wide receiver) Jerry Rice because of the pride he takes in what he does. They all know what it takes to play the game. That’s why they have been champions.

Christopher Young

Fullerton senior

Melissa Schutz does three sports (volleyball, basketball, swimming) and is the first girl from Newport Harbor who will graduate with 12 varsity letters. She does really well in school and she has a social life too.

Sarah Hawkins

Newport Harbor senior

My brother John Cherrington is my role model because he works so hard for everything he has. He sets his goals and achieves them all by working. He doesn’t get anything easy and because of that he enjoys everything he does have that much more.

Dwayne Cherrington

Santa Ana Valley senior

Being in the situation of battling back from an injury, I now look up to anyone who has had to do that and done it with success, such as Bobby Hurley. He came back from all those injuries and is now back playing with his team.

Mark Seaton

Servite senior

Magic Johnson because he has heart and he plays just to have fun. When he makes a mistake, he just smiles and shakes it off, then makes up for it. He’s a team player. He always gives it his all, puts his whole heart into his game, and that’s what I want to do.

Jennifer Garrett

Capistrano Valley senior

(San Antonio center) David Robinson is a good person away from basketball, and he is an amazing athlete.

Craig Clark

Sonora senior

I admire (former Texas Tech women’s basketball player) Sheryl Swoopes and (USC women’s basketball coach) Cheryl Miller because they were all-around good players. On the professional level, I’ve always looked up to Magic Johnson because in crunch time, you could always go to him.

Erin Stovall

Woodbridge sophomore

Brett Butler of the Los Angeles Dodgers is a class act. He plays hard, doesn’t make excuses and is a good, clean ballplayer.

Mark Cohen

Huntington Beach

As a role model I look up to my brother, Sam George (UCLA soccer, Anaheim Splash), because of his knowledge of the game. And he’s there for me in many ways. He’s not afraid to see me succeed as much or more than he has. And that shows he wants to see me get better.

Seth George

Santa Margarita senior

My all-time favorite athlete would have to be Mario Lemieux, who has struggled through his NHL career with cancer. He was going to be the next Wayne Gretzky, and would have beaten his record for the most goals in the NHL, except he was forced to retire because of his cancer situation that was becoming worse and worse.

Patrick Stark

Mater Dei freshman

Mark Price of the Cleveland Cavaliers because he’s a fierce competitor, a great shooter and he’s also very vocal about his walk with Christ, and I admire that in him greatly.

Alana Kempton

Whittier Christian, senior

(Miami quarterback) Dan Marino because he is a good role model. He doesn’t get in trouble on or off the field, and he made an amazing comeback last year after major (Achilles’ tendon) surgery.

Ryan Schatz

Fullerton senior

My role model would have to be my sister, Donna Gondringer. She played basketball at the University of Hawaii and she goes to all my games She is always there for me to talk to, to give me help and give me advice.

Rhonda Gondringer

Mater Dei junior

My hero is (Mater Dei girls’ basketball player) Rhonda Gondringer because she never changes her expression when she does something wrong. She also has a lot of confidence in herself and she can do anything she puts her mind to.

Dianna Gagliano

Mater Dei freshman

Nick Van Exel is not exactly quiet, but he does go about his business. He does his job and only talks when he needs to. He’s the prototypical point guard.

Josh Farra

Santa Margarita junior

Jamie Oenning (former Woodbridge player) really taught me a lot about being a leader. When you watch her play for UCLA, she’s one of the smallest players out there. But she doesn’t let her size get her down because her attitude is so much bigger than most other basketball players.

Tami Weaver

Woodbridge junior

Grant Hill can do everything well, came out of a sound program (Duke) and it seems he has a good head on his shoulders. He’s not caught up in all that hype about rookies coming into the NBA.

Brendan Mulligan

Santa Margarita senior

My No. 1 hero is (junior welterweight boxer) Julio Cesar Chavez. He is smaller than most of the other boxers, just as I am smaller than most people. But he still dominates in the ring. He dedicated his life to boxing and made himself the best. No matter how small or scrawny the guy is, he is still kicking everyone’s butt.

Nichol Sarmiento

Mater Dei freshman

My hero among all athletes is (basketball hall of famer) Pete Maravich. His dedication and hard work made him a tremndous basketball player and role model. Pistol Pete practiced every day and proved that practice really does pay off. He set his mind on a dream and accomplished it.

Mary Neff

Mater Dei freshman

My favorite athlete of all time is Rick Knickle (who played with the Kings in 1992-93) because he has overcome so much criticism to become (an NHL) goalie at age 33. Even after many years in the minor leagues, he still kept with his dream to one day play in the NHL. I hope I might have even one-fourth the courage he had to live his dream and one day I might live mine.

Vince Lendzion

Mater Dei freshman