“It was remarkable when you realize he...

“It was remarkable when you realize he was arguably ... the greatest

athlete to come out of our area, and he had an electrical engineering

degree from Stanford, where he was an All-American in two sports. He

was involved both with family and his business. He was never in a

hurry and that was one of the engaging things about him. He made you

feel like you were important.”

-- Buck Johns, of Santa Ana Heights, about George Yardley, the

Newport Harbor product and NBA Hall of Fame player, who died last

week after battling Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“It’s becoming a phenomenon. If everyone ends up going into the

harbor, swimming, snorkeling or paddling out in kayaks, they will

impede what [the dolphins are] doing.”

-- Dennis Kelly, professor of marine biology at Orange Coast

College, about two dolphins that have been swimming in the Back Bay

near the Coast Highway bridge, attracting crowds.

“It was very clear from the way the court spoke to [Greg] Haidl

that this is his absolute last chance.”

-- Susan Schroeder, Orange County deputy district attorney, after

Haidl, who is accused in a high-profile gang rape case, was given

restrictions on his bail.

“We continue every year to expand the entertainment power of the

event, and this year is certainly no exception. We’re expecting

record crowds.”

-- Jeff Parker, Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce vice president,

about this year’s Taste of Newport event, set for September.

“We’re still selling a lot but less than we should be. SUVs have

been, I think, deteriorating within the last year.”

-- Edward Cruz, a salesman at Connell Nissan in Costa Mesa, about

a slowing in sales of large vehicles.