Salata turns 90
Brad Salata, affectionately known as “Beans,” wasn’t around to see his father, Paul, catch passes for USC and then in the NFL and Canadian League, but Beans still saw what he called his dad’s greatest catch.
Beans told the story about the Catch during his father’s 90th birthday party with family and friends at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach on Sunday.
During summers spent at Bayshore trailer park, Beans said Paul Salata would take his family to the nearby Sav-On for nickel ice-cream cones.
One time, they saw a man standing nearby holding three cones in one hand while licking at another in the other hand. Sure enough, an ice-cream scoop fell out of a cone among the three in the man’s hand.
Beans watched in awe as his dad ran and stretched to catch the man’s ice cream about a foot from hitting the ground.
“The guy didn’t know what to do, so Dad grabbed his hand and stuck the ice cream back in the cone,” Beans said. “I’m sure Dad expected something, a first-down signal or something. But anyways that was Dad’s greatest catch. I was so glad I was there to see it.”
The story created laughter and applause from those in attendance, including yours truly. The Catch was also an example of how much Paul Salata has cared for others throughout his 90 years on this planet, much of that time spent in our community.
Many know him as the man who created Irrelevant Week and Mr. Irrelevant, the final pick of the NFL Draft. He’s enjoyed doing something nice for someone for no reason at all, and he’s had fun with all things irrelevant. Simply put, it never gets old for him and those who love him.
The birthday celebration wasn’t all about the irrelevant theme. There has been so much more to Salata than that. He’s been a dad, husband and also Uncle Paul to many of his loving nieces and nephews.
He’s also a grandfather, and those close to him, like his daughter, Melanie Fitch, call him, “Jedo,” which means Grandpa in Serbian.
Melanie told stories of her dad’s past work as a ticket scalper and also about how he would get his kids in for free at the circus.
“He’s not dishonest, he’s just frugal,” Mel said of Jedo.
There are so many stories that come about during 90 years, but they seem funnier and more entertaining with regard to Paul Salata. The jokes have kept me laughing throughout my time at the Daily Pilot and Irrelevant Week is my favorite event to cover.
I am forever grateful to be included in Salata’s circle, where most have a nickname. Melanie is Mel or Sissy, from her childhood days. Beans got his name because he wore a beanie with a propeller on top of it as a kid.
I’m called, “Esteban,” my first name in Spanish and those friends playfully tease me about some sort of Latin flair.
One of Paul’s closest friends is Antonio Lopez, known as “Commish,” because he usually ends up as one of the most important men behind the scenes during Irrelevant Week.
Paul loves to joke around with Commish.
Would you believe they get along so well even though Commish is a Bruin? It’s true. They met one morning at Cappy’s where Paul teased him about UCLA and invited him to be a part of Irrelevant Week.
Little did the Commish know that he would be going on a fun ride for the rest of his life.
We’ve all seen Paul continue to leave a great legacy. That legacy includes philanthropy. He’s done great work as a leader and member of the Newport Beach Commodores Club.
Just this past year, an award was created in his name, given to those who also do extraordinary acts in the community.
It was neat to see Paul Salata celebrated on Sunday with family and friends. There was genuine love in the room. At Paul’s table sat Dr. Sammy Lee, the former Olympic diver who was known for hilarious crude jokes back in the early days of the Lowsman Trophy banquet for Mr. Irrelevant, and Ed Arnold, the longtime local TV broadcast guy.
Bill Betz, a former USC fullback and another close friend of Paul’s, spoke during the celebration.
“We used to argue if Paul was a drinker at USC,” Betz said. “People would say, ‘I’ve seen him drunk.’ And I would say, ‘He wasn’t drunk. He was drunk on himself.’”
At my table, I sat next to Commish and a nice lady known as Aunt Ethel (Pattison). She was close friends and sorority sisters at USC with Paul’s late wife, Beverly. They also worked together as flight attendants for United.
She told me that Beverly had a great sense of humor and was sometimes funnier than her husband.
That sense of humor and positive outlook has always helped Paul throughout his life.
It doesn’t seem all that long ago that he beat cancer.
Sunday was indeed another Happy Birthday.
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Steve Virgen is the sports editor of the Daily Pilot.
Twitter: @SteveVirgen
