Olympians get ‘streets’

Olympic volleyball champion Misty May-Treanor is no stranger to accolades from politicians.

President Bush congratulated her and her partner Kerri Walsh personally after they defended their gold medal in beach volleyball against the second-place Chinese team in Beijing, undeniably placing themselves as one of the best teams ever to play the game.

But fame didn’t stop Costa Mesa-raised May-Treanor and a few other local Olympians from stopping by Costa Mesa City Hall to receive the praise of the City Council on Tuesday night.

May-Treanor came into the Council Chambers quietly on crutches, escorted by her Newport Harbor High School classmate Michelle Fay, and sat in the back left of the auditorium. After enduring many rounds of Olympic beach volleyball competition, she hurt a leg on “Dancing with the Stars.”

The city had four mock street signs printed with the names of May-Treanor, Sharon Day, Rami Zur and Jake Gibb, which Mayor Eric Bever presented to them.

The blue and white placards said things like Sharon Day Dr. and Rami Zur Rd.

May-Treanor, who grew up in Costa Mesa, thought it would be funny to play a prank on her dad, who still lives in the city, by posting her custom-made sign on her dad’s street.

“Who do I talk to to have my dad’s Dogwood Street sign replaced [with this one]?” May-Treanor asked in front of the audience.

For some of the athletes, their connections to the city were obvious. Sharon Day, an Olympic high jumper who graduated from Costa Mesa High School, was approached by city TV station Manager Dane Bora, who asked her to say hello to her dad for him.

Day’s father, Eugene, is still a coach at the high school.

“It’s really cool that the city has been so supportive,” Day said.

The four City Council members present came down from the dais and congratulated each of the athletes, and paused to gather in the front of the room to take pictures.

“For me there is a special pride in the fact that four members of Team USA have roots here in Costa Mesa,” Bever said.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.