Millennium coverage: Top 10 sports stories of the century

Barry Faulkner

The topic is as broad as the timeline it encompasses. But when

pinpointing the most prominent stories of the century within the

Newport-Mesa sports community, the search ostensibly begins A.Y.

After Yardley.

George Yardley was in the eighth grade when Newport Harbor High reached

the 1942 CIF Southern Section Small Schools Division football title game.

To that point, local sports was primarily recreation.

Entering Newport Harbor the following fall, Yardley stepped into the

arena of organized basketball and a career which would, more than 50

years later, culminate in his induction to the sport’s Hall of Fame.

In between, Yardley bore witness to the rise of local high school and

college sports, as well as myriad individuals who sprang from these

coastal confines to earn their own place among the athletic pantheon.

King Georgie, as he was affectionately tabbed at the time of his

enshrinement in Springfield, Mass., has probably seen Lindsay Davenport

rocket forehands, Steve Timmons pound back-row kills, and Dan Quisenberry

sling submarine sliders under and around the flailing bats of World

Series foes.

What notable local team accomplishments he hasn’t witnessed, he’s

absorbed through newspaper headlines, community buzz or, perhaps, a

casual conversation around the office water cooler.

Through it all, and into the next millennium, Yardley himself has set the

standard by which all local heroes are judged. It is this quick-witted,

69-year-old legend who reigns atop the Daily Pilot sports department’s

choices for the Top 10 Newport-Mesa sports stories of the century.

1) George Yardley, Hall of Famer - This six-time NBA All-Star, inducted

into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996, began making

local headlines before the century reached midcourt.

A 1946 graduate of Newport Harbor High, the smooth-shooting 6-foot-5

forward went on to earn College Player of the Year laurels twice at

Stanford.

After a year of AAU ball and a two-year military stint, he took his

well-developed scoring skills to the NBA, where he played for the Fort

Wayne and Detroit Pistons, as well as the Syracuse Nationals.

In the 1957-58 season, he broke George Mikan’s league single-season

scoring record with 2,001 points. He scored 9,063 NBA points (19.2 per

game), before retiring to focus on family and private business interests.

When the Hall of Fame called, 36 years after his final game, his return

to the spotlight allowed new generations of fans to appreciate his quick

wit and consummate grace.

2) CIF football finalists - After the 1942 Newport Harbor High football

team lost to Glenn Davis-led Bonita, 39-6, in the CIF Southern Section

Small Schools Division football championship, it took 47 years for a

Newport-Mesa school to get another crack at a CIF crown.

But Corona del Mar was successful in back-to-back title-game appearances

in 1988-89 and Newport Harbor won two of its four championship games

during the last eight years of the century.

Coach Dave Holland’s Sea Kings defeated Valencia, 17-7, in the 1988

Division VI final at Orange Coast College, then topped La Quinta to

defend its crown, 21-10, at the same locale.

CdM fullback-linebacker Jerrott Willard, who played for Cal and the

Kansas City Chiefs, was CIF Division VI Player of the Year in ’89.

Newport Harbor lost the 1992 Division IV title clash against Irvine,

30-8, also at OCC, before winning its first CIF title with a 20-15

Division V triumph in 1994 at OCC.

Harbor’s Brian Johnson, a two-way star at tailback and cornerback, was

the Division V Player of the Year.

Coach Jeff Brinkley’s Sailors were thumped, 38-0, by then-Sea View League

rival Santa Margarita in the 1996 Division V final at Cal State

Fullerton, before closing the millennium with a 19-18 win over Irvine for

the Division VI spoils Dec. 10 at OCC.

Costa Mesa, led by Division Player of the Year Bryan Luxembourger, who

starred at linebacker and guard, made it to the Division VIII finals in

1993. Coach Myron Miller’s Mustangs lost to Trabuco Hills, 44-6.

3) Lindsay Davenport - Though still shy of her mid-20s, this women’s

tennis superstar has already brought an Olympic gold medal, as well as

championship trophies from the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, home to Newport

Beach.

Admired as much among tennis fans for her down-to-earth personality as

her ample athletic skills, Davenport seized the Women’s Tennis

Association’s No. 1 ranking with equal parts work ethic and talent.

Born in Palos Verdes and raised in Murrieta, she made her new Newport

neighbors take notice and swell with pride by winning at the 1996 Atlanta

Summer Olympics.

Aided in her ascension to the top by local guru Robert Van’t Hof, whose

coaching she regularly praises, Davenport won her first major

championship at the 1998 U.S. Open.

She became the third American-born women in 40 years to hoist the silver

Wimbledon trophy over her head on, fittingly, July 4, then told the

international media, “This was my day and I’m going to treasure it.”

So too, Newport Beach will continue to treasure one of its most notable

citizens, well into the new millennium.

4) Dan Quisenberry - Though his wit and intelligence were more impressive

than his fastball, “Quiz” came out of Costa Mesa High and Orange Coast

College to become the most heralded Newport-Mesa baseball player of all

time.

An undrafted free agent, who begged a Kansas City Royals scout to sign

him, he debuted with the Royals in 1979 and went on to record 244 saves,

a 2.76 ERA, and a 56-46 record. He also collected five American League

Fireman of the Year awards.

Using his submarine delivery, which prompted him to quip “I found a

delivery in my flaw,” he pitched in two World Series, including a 1985

seven-game triumph over the Cardinals.

He was inducted into the Orange County Hall of Fame in 1998, soon after being diagnosed with brain cancer. His battle with the disease ended

Sept. 30, 1999 at his home in Kansas. He was 45.

5) CIF State basketball finalists - In a mere three-season span, the

Estancia High boys and Costa Mesa High girls became the only Newport-Mesa

teams to ever reach the biggest stage the prep arena provides. In the

process, they generated widespread community interest and support.

Estancia, defeated in the Southern Section title game, rebounded to earn

a trip to Oakland. Coach Tim O’Brien’s Eagles (29-5) then defeated

Washington High of Fremont, 82-72, and were crowned 1991 CIF State

Division III champions.

Matt Fuerbringer, Paul McDaniels, Mike Haas, Torrey Hammond and Son Ly

were the starting five, though none played college basketball.

Senior Olivia DiCamilli, junior Heather Robinson and first-year coach

Lisa McNamee helped the Mesa girls earn the right to play for the 1993

Division III state title. But St. Francis High of Sacramento ruined the

dream season with a 50-43 win. The Mustangs finished 29-5 and DiCamilli,

who went on to San Diego State, was the section’s Division III Player of

the Year.

6) Steve Timmons - One of the most heralded athletes to come out of

Newport Harbor High and Orange Coast College, this 6-foot-5 former

basketball player rose to the top of international volleyball with a

career that included three Olympic medals.

He was the MVP of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, helping Team USA win the

first of its back-to-back gold medals.

His red flat-top haircut, which later became the logo for his clothing

company RedSand, made him a high-profile leader in the sport’s popularity

explosion in the 1980s.

He was a pioneer in back-row hitting and was named the best blocker at

the 1998 Olympics.

He was a two-time All-American at USC, where he won a national

championship (‘80) and played in three final fours. He finished his

career on the pro beach tour.

Now residing in Del Mar, he was elected to the Volleyball Hall of Fame in

1998.

7) Back Bay girls volleyball - Mention Corona del Mar or Newport Harbor

high schools to a prep sports enthusiast anywhere in California and

there’s a good chance those who recognize the name will think volleyball.

Volleyball, fueled by the strong presence of the Balboa-based Orange

County Volleyball Club, is the undisputed queen of Back Bay girls sports.

And a review of team titles and individual CIF Southern Section players

of the year offers ample justification.

Since 1977, when Corona del Mar christened the title run by winning the

section 4-A title, the Back Bay has been home to 13 section

championships, nine state titles and three national crowns.

CdM and Harbor have six section titles and four state championships

apiece, though the Sea Kings hold an edge in national titles, 2-1.

Newport Christian, since closed, rounds out the honor roll, having swept

section and state crowns in ’83.

This remarkable history includes eight different coaches, though 14-year

Harbor head man Dan Glenn is easily the most prolific, having guided the

Tars to five section, four state and one national championship.

Local CIF Player of the Year honorees were Cheryl Johnston (1977-78), Pam

Lawrence (‘82), Lara Carlsen and Tracy Schriber (‘90), as well as Kim

Coleman (‘92), all from CdM.

Newport honorees were Kori Pulaski (‘79), Jenny Evans (‘87), Misty May

(1993-94), Jennifer Carey (‘97) and April Ross (1998-99).

Stella Berkebile earned top honors for Newport Christian (‘83) and

Newport Beach resident Courtney Owens was recognized from Calvary Chapel

(1993-94).

8) Back Bay boys water polo - Though arch-rival high schools Corona del

Mar and Newport Harbor don’t always appreciate collaboration, combining

the two forges one of the most impressive sports dynasties in CIF

Southern Section history.

The Sailors and Sea Kings have split 20 section titles since 1965 and the

two schools have made 32 trips to the section title game the last 37

years.

CdM won CIF titles under four different coaches in 1965, ‘66, ‘69, ‘74,

‘82, ‘85, ’87. ‘88, ’89 and ‘99, while Harbor was section champion in

‘67, ‘68, ‘70, ‘75, ‘77, ‘78, ‘79, ‘80, ‘83, and ‘84, all under Bill

Barnett’s tutelage.

The title games of 1969, ‘74, and ’84 were all-Back Bay affairs.

Included in that run were 17 players who claimed 19 CIF Division Player

of the Year awards. Newport’s Kevin Robertson (1975-76) and James

Bergeson (1977-78) were the two-time winners.

Players of the year from CdM were, Pat McClellan (‘66), Jerry Eubank

(‘68), Bruce Black (‘69), Garth Bergeson (‘70), Bruce Krumpholtz (‘72),

Mark Watson (‘74), David Imbernino (‘82), James Wagner (‘87), Chris

Oeding (‘88) and Brandon Howald (‘89).

Others earning top honors from Newport were, Eric Lindroth (‘68), Frank

Anderson (‘75), Mike Grier (‘79), Matt Tingler (‘83) and Andrew Larson

(‘84).

9) Toshiba Senior Classic - Billed in one newspaper ad as “78 guys trying

to beat each other with clubs,” the annual Senior PGA Tour event has

become a Newport-Mesa spring staple since debuting in 1995.

George Archer won the inaugural event at Mesa Verde Country Club and the

tournament has flourished the last four years at the Newport Beach

Country Club.

In addition to watching some of the game’s legendary figures, local

galleries have witnessed some fantastic finishes.

In 1999, Gary McCord prevailed in a five-hole playoff which began with

four players.

In 1998, Hale Irwin shot a course-record 62 in the final round to pass 11

players and claim the $160,000 first prize. He was saved a two-stroke

penalty on No. 17, when a sand trap rake stopped his ball from rolling

into a water hazard.

In 1997, Bob Murphy prevailed in a nine-hole playoff, a record at the

time.

Jim Colbert led wire to wire in ’96.

The tournament has also contributed millions to charity.

10) OCC football national titles - Though 12 years apart, two Orange

Coast College football teams, both coached by Dick Tucker, are forever

linked in history as the school’s only undefeated national champions.

The 1963 squad (10-0) defeated Northeast Oklahoma A&M;, 21-0, in the

Junior Rose Bowl, witnessed by 44,044 in Pasadena, as well as a national

television audience.

The 1975 Pirates (11-0) finished with a 38-14 triumph over Rio Hondo in

the Avocado Bowl at Cerritos College.

The ’63 unit dominated with defense, outscoring opponents, 330-43, the

latter the fewest points allowed by an OCC team. Halfback Mike Hunter,

fullback Bob Hayes, center Greg Wojcik, defensive tackle Gary Magner and

linebacker Rod Paterno were All-Americans. Billy White, who went on to

coach baseball at Newport Harbor, was the quarterback.

All-American halfback Tony Accomando, who scored a school-record 29

touchdowns, paced the ’75 squad, which set an OCC scoring record with 436

points.

Joining Accomando on the All-American team were, offensive tackle Jack

Clark, kicker Woody Tressler and defensive end Mike Frost, a Corona del

Mar High product.

Dave White, now the coach at Edison, was the quarterback.

Extra point) Irrelevant Week - When he decided 24 years ago to host,

toast and roast the last pick in the NFL draft with an annual five-day

summer circus of activity in Newport Beach, Irrelevant Week founder Paul

Salata certainly made a spectacle for himself.

In addition to celebrating the underdog, the brainchild of the prominent

local businessman, also a former USC and NFL receiver, has done its share

to enhance the national image of Newport Beach, particularly among sports

fans.

The festivities often mark the career highlight for the Lowsman Trophy

winners, though several have gone on to enjoy productive stints in the

NFL.