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No. 22: Ila Borders

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 22:

= Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Lakers
= Lynn Swann, USC football

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 22:
= Bo Jackson, California Angels
= Hugh McElhenny: L.A. Washington High football; Compton College football
= Brett Butler, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Bill Buckner, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Dick Bass, Los Angeles Rams
= Raymond Lewis, Verbum Dei High basketball
= Raymond Townsend: UCLA basketball

The most interesting story for No. 22:
= Ila Borders, Whittier Christian High baseball pitcher (1989 to 1993)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Downey, La Mirada, La Habra, Bellflower,  Costa Mesa, Whittier, Santa Ana, Long Beach

A camera crew from CBS’ “60 Minutes” chased down Ila Borders, and she was bordering on a panic attack.

The 23-year-old had become national news of sorts. It was 1998. She was about to become the first pitcher to start a game in a men’s professional baseball league, with the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the independent Northern League.

Her instincts were to push back on anything at this m0ment that could distract from her mental preparation.

In the prologue of her 2017 book, “Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey,” Borders explained how she had to retreat to the women’s restroom at the ballpark, jump into a stall and put her feet up so no one could detect she was there.

“I’m an athlete here to win,” she wrote. “Now get the hell out of my face. Would you tell a guy to smile? Growing up I heard about Don Drysdale, the Los Angeles Dodgers star right-hander of the 1950s and 1960s. I was crazy about Drysdale, who everyone said was the nicest guy around — except for the days he pitched. Then no one went near him. … I’ve been fighting for this since I was ten years old.”

By the time Mike Wallace had the chance to sit down with Borders, her family, friends, managers and teammates to do the story, Borders had a chance to explain.

“I’ve always had this fierce spirit to do what I want to do,” she said.

It want as far back to when she wore No. 22 for Whittier Christian High School in La Habra. Right about the time the movie “A League Of Their Own” had come out. There had been a template for women playing pro baseball, and Borders wanted in.

Continue reading “No. 22: Ila Borders” →

No. 61: Jake Olson

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 61:

= Chan Ho Park, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Rich Saul, Los Angeles Rams

The not-so-obvious choice for No. 61:

= Josh Beckett, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Bill Fisk, USC football

The most interesting story for No. 61:
Jake Olson, USC football long snapper (2015 to 2018)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Huntington Beach,  Orange, L.A. Coliseum

Long before he found his way onto the Coliseum turf with a huge smile on his face for the first time wearing a USC football jersey, the point person in executing an extra point, Jake Olson had already made his point.

The Trojans’ 2017 Labor Day weekend season opener against visiting underdog Western Michigan was tied 21-21 after three quarters and about to go sideways. Marvell Tell returned an interception 37 yards for a USC touchdown with 3:13 left in the game, and the fourth-ranked Trojans had some breathing room, up 17 points.

That’s when the 20-year-old Olson took a deep breath. USC head coach Clay Helton turned to the sideline and yelled his name: “Are you ready? Let’s get this done!”

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound redshirt sophomore took one more practice snap, launching the football between his legs with a rhythm and rote that, by this point, was pure and natural.

Olson put his right hand on the shoulder of teammate Wyatt Schmidt, and the two ran together more than 50 yards across the grass to where the line of scrimmage was at the peristyle end for the touchdown, and the game’s, punctuation mark. After the referee gave special instructions to both sides, he blew the whistle, Olson made the snap, the ball was placed by Schmidt, and the kick by freshman Chase McGrath was good. USC won 49-31.

“What a pressure player,” Helton said after the game. “Was that not a perfect snap?”

“It turned out to be a beautiful moment,” Olson said.

Former USC head coach Pete Carroll saw Olson go into the game and said he called Olson and said, “Hey Jakey! I’m so proud of you. I love you.”

If anyone by this point could see the good in all that happened, it was Olson.

Continue reading “No. 61: Jake Olson” →

No. 48: Milt Smith

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 48:
= Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams
= Ramon Martinez, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
= Dave Stewart, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
= Torii Hunter, Anaheim Angels outfielder

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 48:
= Lionel Washington, Los Angeles Raiders

The most interesting story for No. 48:
Milt Smith, UCLA football left end (1939 to 1943)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Redlands, Santa Ana, Westwood

Milt Smith, a 6-foot-3, 190 pound end, far right, is included in photo prior to UCLA’s 1943 New Year’s Day Rose Bowl appearance against Georgia as part of the Bruins’ first string linemen. Also included, from left: Burr Baldwin, Charles Fears, Al Sparlis, Jack Lecoulie, Bill Armstrong and Jack Finlay.

Watch what happens here, and tell us if we’re taking up too much time.

You’ve heard of the 1939 UCLA undefeated football team full of soon-to-be legendary figures?

Milton Bradley “Snuffy” Smith wasn’t one of them.

His name, after all, was Smith.

When the Redlands-born kid from Santa Ana High joined the Bruins roster as a freshman, the offense was already generated by the talents of Jackie Robinson, Kenny Washington and Woody Strode. The Gold Dust Trio.

As Strode moved on after the season to start a film career and try some local semi-pro football, the sophomore Smith was named as his replacement at left end by coach Babe Horrell. But Smith’s season ended with a broken leg in the third quarter of a game in the next-to-last game against Washington — the team’ s only win that season. Smith was still selected second team on the Associated Press and All-Pacific Coast Conference teams.

In 1941, with Bob Waterfield coming in as the new UCLA quarterback, Smith was one of his favorite receivers. He ended up as an honorable mention for the All-PCC team.

Continue reading “No. 48: Milt Smith” →

No. 5: Hunter Greene

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 5:

= Reggie Bush: USC football
= Albert Pujols: Los Angeles Angels
= Robert Horry: Los Angeles Lakers
= Freddie Freeman: Los Angeles Dodgers
= Kenny Easley: UCLA football
= Baron Davis: UCLA basketball, Los Angeles Clippers

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 5:

= Brian Downing: California Angels
= Dieter Brock: Los Angeles Rams
= Misty May Treanor: Long Beach State women’s volleyball
= Ali Riley: Angel City FC
= Corey Seager: Los Angeles Dodgers
= Normar Garciaparra: Los Angeles Dodgers

The most interesting story for No. 5:
Hunter Greene: Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks baseball (2014 to 2017)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Sherman Oaks, Stevenson Ranch, Compton, Woodland Hills

Hunter Green might be No. 19-5511 TCX on the Patone color spectrum, described as a cool-tone, earthy, woodland shade that “can evoke feelings of peace and balance, and can also embody growth and new beginnings.”

Hunter Greene — add the “e” on the end of his swatch — wore No. 5 as the Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks’ pitcher/shortstop/attention grabber when he arrived on the varsity baseball team as a freshman. That was pretty cool unto itself.

Greene found his own inner peace and balance as a two-way star. He wasn’t throwing shade. By the time he reached the end of his senior season, many saw him as Major League Baseball’s next big deal.

In numerology, No. 5 is said to represent flexibility and resilience. It represents the pentagram. It is supposed to bring luck for those intelligent, adventurous and have good communication skills.

Exhibit A: Hunter Greene.

When Sports Illustrated still had cultural relevance and media clout, it presented Hunter Greene to the world on the cover of its April 24, 2017 issue. A few months heading into the Major League Baseball draft, it proclaimed: “Baseball’s LeBron or the new Babe? He’s 17. He mashes. He throws 102. Hunter Greene is the star baseball needs (First he has to finish high school).”

It was suitable for framing.

While SI had put high school athletes on the cover before — less than a dozen — Greene was the first California high school athlete honored. Also, the first African-American prep baseball player on the cover.

Next came the June cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids: “Meet 17-year-old Hunter Greene, the slugging, flame-throwing, violin-playing painter who is on deck to become baseball’s biggest superstar.”

That’s a lot for one teenager to be saddled with. But if anyone might be best equipped to handle that sort of attention, Green, who grew up 20 miles north of the campus up in Stevenson Ranch near Santa Clarita, may have been the too-good-to-be-true story for a three-time All-CIF player.

“People are going to look at him expecting things and he’s still just a kid,” his father, Russell Greene said. “He has to rise to that occasion and he will.”

Hunter Greene, in the Los Angeles Daily News, as he was named SoCal Prep Athlete of the Week in April of 2017 after  throwing a three-hitter with seven seven strike outs in a 2-1 complete-game seven-inning win over Harvard Westlake, using just 81 pitches.

Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times whetted the appetite prior to SI with his own profile of Greene a couple months earlier, as the 2017 baseball season started, and the headline called him a “a teenage star in the making.”

“At 6 feet 4 and 211 pounds, with a still-maturing body and a powerful right arm that could lead to a $9-million signing bonus, Greene … scored 31 on the ACT and is on a first-name basis with many in Major League Baseball’s hierarchy, from the commissioner, Rob Manfred, to Hall of Famers Joe Torre and Tommy Lasorda. This smart, humble, communicative teen could be an ideal role model to perform on baseball’s highest stage.”

He was serving up 100-mph-plus fastballs in the recent winter league games.

He had become a fascinating fielding shortstop whose “power is only getting better since his 5-foot-10 freshman days when he batted just .122 on varsity. He has since hit .419 and .390 in the last two seasons. His improvement has been both consistent and dramatic.”

Green had the green light to do big things.

Continue reading “No. 5: Hunter Greene” →

No. 43: Troy Polamalu

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 43:

= Troy Polamalu, USC football
= Raul Mondesi, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Mychal Thompson, Los Angeles Lakers

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 43:

= Greg Lee, UCLA basketball
= Rick Sutcliffe, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Dave Ball, UCLA football
= George Brunet, California Angels

The most interesting story for No. 43:
Troy Polamalu, USC football safety (1999 to 2002)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Garden Grove, Santa Ana, L.A. Coliseum

The best chance Troy Polamalu had for survival when he was a kid was to move out of Southern California. His mother agreed.

So when he was 9 years old, with an incredible amount of self awareness, Troy went to live in Oregon. His Uncle Salu Polamalu would be a major influence on him.

Eventually, the next best chance Troy Polamalu had for self fulfillment as an talented, passion-filled athlete when he was a teenager was was to come back to Southern California. His family agreed.

So when he graduated from high school in Oregon, his Uncle Keneti Polamalu, better known during his USC football days as a running back named Kennedy Pola was a major influence on his finding a spot on the Trojans’ football roster.

It didn’t take all that long before Polamalu stood head and shoulders above his Trojan teammates. Aside from his signature head of hair.

Dynamic. Acrobatic. But with his soulful calmness, integrity and dedication to family and spirituality. He also became another link in a line of influential and admired Polynesian/American Samoan players in the region’s storied history history.

Continue reading “No. 43: Troy Polamalu” →