You’re welcome

Tony Altobelli

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, hot dogs were

cooking, sodas were chilling, music was playing and players, coaches and

media were mingling peacefully at Orange Coast College’s first-ever Get

Acquainted Barbecue on Wednesday.

It was almost like the movie, “Pleasantville,” where everything was

just peachy-swell.

All in all, the BBQ was a great idea.

At best, it gave coaches, athletes, media and administration a chance

to meet and learn more about each other in a relaxed environment, as well

as show the athletes that OCC is committed to being the top community

college for athletes to come to.

“When you concentrate on your sport, you sometimes forget about how

many other things go on here at OCC,” Pirate baseball pitcher John

Coleman said. “Not to mention, I was able to meet other coaches and

listen to their insights. I realize that most coaches here are on the

same page when it comes to their athletes.”

At worst, the kids got a free meal and a darker tan.

Leading the Pirate grill was men’s and women’s volleyball coach Chuck

Cutenese, with golf coach Gordie Fitzel and soccer co-coach Laird Hayes

assisting, among others.

Fortunately, there were no injuries and no property damage.

“I thought it was a huge success,” OCC Athletic Director Jane

Hilgendorf said. “I was extremely pleased with the turnout. The players

and coaches didn’t just mingle with their own team and it was a great way

for us to show the athletes that we care. We’ll hope to do this again

next year.”

It was perfect timing, with our series on OCC’s fall and winter

coaches wrapping up.

This column gives me an opportunity to express my side of this series.

All of the trials and tribulations I went through to make this series

possible.

Unfortunately, there were none.

All I can say is, “Thank you.”

Thanks to all the coaches as well as the support of Athletic Director

Jane Hilgendorf. It was just as fun for me as it was for you guys.

A real cool thing about the coaches that I’ve talked to: they’re all

motivated by each other and they all push themselves to be constantly

better.

Women’s soccer coach Barbara Bond said it best when she said, “What

keeps me going is the people I work with. I have such a high respect for

all of them. They just make me work harder and harder each year.”

Like I was with the Little League thing, my first impression of this

assignment was drastically wrong.

At first, I thought, “Great, I’m sure these guys will have a field day

with me as they attempt to regurgitate their Al Bundy-esque athletic

careers for the bazillionth time.”

Needless to say, I was a tad off the mark, again.

What I found was class and respect, something that a reporter may not

always get, or deserve, for that matter.

For parents of OCC athletes that are coached by Mike Taylor, Barbara

Bond, Chuck Cutenese, Mike Thornton, John Goldman, Gordie Fitzel, Laird

Hayes, Mauricio Claure, Mike Hill, Chris Oeding, Jim Jorgensen or Linda

Moeller, I must warn you.

Your children are learning something from them. Not only about proper

running, throwing, dribbling, putting and rowing techniques, but about

life.

They’re going to learn about what it’s like to be on a team; team

goals, team concepts, team rules, team disciplines and most of all, team

unity.

They’re going to learn that the childish stuff that they could get

away with in high school will not be tolerated at this level.

They’re going to learn that they actually don’t know everything and

that they have two ears and only one mouth for a reason.

They’re going to learn that average stinks and it’s not something to

settle for.

They’re going to learn that with them, GPA stands for Gonna Produce

“A’s”.

They’re going to learn the word intensity and the various ways this

word can be used in a person’s life.

They’re going to learn why OCC has won the Orange Empire Conference

Supremacy award as the conference’s top athletic program 17 of the last

21 years.

They’re going to learn how to improve, both mentally and physically,

not only after each season, but after each game and even after each

practice.

They’re going to learn that these coaches do not take to the

assumption that since this is “only” a two-year community college, that

they’re not supposed to care all that much.

They’re going to make a lot of new friends. Not only with their

teammates, but with the coaches, as well.

So if you see them doing weird things like waking up before noon,

spending less than 10 hours in front of the television, working out and

exercising, smiling, acting enthusiastic about something, and, yes, doing

their homework, don’t be alarmed.

They are still your children. They’re just getting a crash course on

life over at Coast.

Want to know the best way to repay them for their hours of service to

their team, college and community?

Show your support by going to a game or two.

We’ll do our part by telling you who, what, where and when.

They’ll show you why.