Ex-Sea King living passion

Chris Yemma

Coming off the bench as the 12th option for the Corona del Mar High

boys basketball team in the early 1980s, John Ireland deduced that

playing professional sports was probably not in his future.

“I was literally the 12th man on the bench,” he said. “I played

less than a minute a game. Needless to say, I was probably the most

obnoxious person on the team.”

But his lack of pure athletic ability posed a problem for the now

42-year-old: sports were his passion.

Fast-forward 20-plus years, and it seems as if he found the

solution.

Ireland, who resides in Manhattan Beach, is co-host, with Steve

Mason, of “The Big Show” on ESPN Radio 710, and is also a television

personality and reporter for KCAL 9 sports.

Having grown up a Laker fan, Ireland now covers the Lakers for

KCAL.

Having grown up a sports fan, Ireland lives, breathes and preaches

sports for a living.

“It doesn’t feel like work,” he admits. “I’m one of those guys

you’d find at all those games even if I wasn’t paid to go to them.”

Ireland will be hosting, along with event-founder Paul Salata,

Tuesday’s Irrelevant Week Lowsman Trophy banquet, marking Day 2 of

this year’s celebration of the 255th and last pick of the National

Football League draft.

Mr. Irrelevant, Andy Stokes, a tight end from William Penn

University, was selected by the New England Patriots and will be

presented with the 30th Lowsman Trophy, the humorous antithesis of

the coveted Heisman Trophy.

Ireland, a longtime participant in Irrelevant Week, was chosen to

“take some of the heat off [Salata],” said Melanie Fitch, event chief

executive officer and Salata’s daughter.

The radio host, however, formed his opinion on why he was chosen.

“They’re definitely not bringing me up there to give a speech on

the meaning of life,” he said. “I think I was selected because they

know I can give -- and take -- a hard time.”

The format of the banquet, said Fitch, also a former Corona del

Mar student, will feature Ireland and Salata bantering back and

forth, as well as to the semi-celebrity guests.

Scheduled to be among the approximately 20 guests are last year’s

Mr. Irrelevant, Andre Sommersell, along with USC football coach Pete

Carroll and USC’s Hesiman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart.

For Ireland, it marks one of the many times he has been called

upon to use his broadcasting skills, which originated back in high

school, he said.

Now married with a 3-year-old son, Ireland at first wanted to be a

sportswriter. But, by about age 13, he became more intrigued with

broadcasting.

“I used to turn down the sound on the TV and broadcast games,” he

said. “It would drive my parents nuts; it was kind of funny.”

He graduated from UCLA with a history degree and got a job as a

news reporter at a small station in Monroe, La. He quickly became the

sports reporter.

His career has included stops from the East Coast to Texas to San

Diego. He joined KCAL in 1995.

A lifelong Laker fan, Ireland has combined his passion for sports

with his passion for television reporting. He is KCAL’s “roving

reporter” for baseball and basketball broadcasts and has served as

the sideline reporter at Laker games.

With Phil Jackson returning to the Lakers organization, Ireland is

looking forward to next season.

“I think everybody tied to the Lakers is happy he’s coming back,”

he said. “There was no buzz in [Staples Center] last year and now

that he’s back, there’s a tangible buzz. Everybody’s talking about

it.”

Ireland’s quick wit, fast pace and natural ability have helped him

progress in the sports journalism world. Perhaps one of his greatest

resources is his sense of humor.

That is one of the main reasons he is co-hosting the Lowsman

Banquet. And that is what should mix well with the theme of

Irrelevant Week.

At least, Fitch thinks so.

And as far as the banter that will be flying between Ireland and

Salata, Fitch knows who gain the advantage.

“Of course my dad’s going to come out on top,” she said. “He’ll

come out on top no matter what, although I’m not sure everyone else

will agree.”