The Popcorn Stand: Here’s to Jeff Munter

When I first learned the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce was honoring Jeff Munter with a Lifetime Achievement Award, I must admit I didn’t have the classiest of reactions at first. My reaction was “it’s about time. What took you guys so long?”

So I have to admit I believe the honor bestowed on Jeff is well-deserved — and long overdue. His service to the community of Lindsay, particularly as an educator and coach is well-documented.

I first came into contact with Jeff as a seventh grader when he coached the Lindsay Pop Warner football team. I played for that team. We went 1-8.

The next year as an eighth grader I played for the Lindsay Pop Warner team under the guidance of Jeff that went 10-1 and advanced to what would be considered the Valley Championship of our time. We lost to Tulare in that championship game at Frank Skadan Stadium but nonetheless the accomplishment of making that title game under the guidance of Jeff was a big deal for the community.

I’m sure Jeff remembers that game and season just as well if not better than I do. It was an indication of the future success the young coach at the time would have in later years when he coached at Lindsay High School.

When I think of Jeff one of the other main things that come to my mind is his uncanny knowledge of the rules of Major League Baseball or baseball in general no matter what the level and I’m sure it’s likely he has that kind of knowledge of the rules for any sport or task he undertakes.

I believe the two most knowledgable men of Major League Baseball’s rules are longtime Major League umpire and Hall of Famer, the late Doug Harvey who lived in the Springville area, and Jeff. I must admit as a San Francisco Giants fan when I watched the Los Angeles Dodgers Chase Utley break Ruben Tejada’s leg with that controversial slide — if you can call it a slide – in the 2015 playoffs my first thought was wanting to contact Harvey — or Jeff — and ask them if that slide was in any way against Major League rules. Major League Baseball eventually changed the rule when it comes to sliding into second base when trying to break up a double play as a result of that play.

Even though Jeff is a Giants fan like me I know he would have given me an objective answer as far as the Major League rules are concerned when it came to that play.

Alex Larson also shared a story with me once from when he played baseball for Jeff at Lindsay High. Jeff was standing outside the third base coaches box and the opposing coach tried to make an issue of it, arguing Jeff was supposed to stay inside the coaches box.

Jeff’s response was basically “so that’s the way it’s going to be” and proceeded to point out the opposing coach wasn’t wearing the proper uniform. Not only did Jeff point out the opposing coach wasn’t wearing the proper uniform, he specifically pointed out everything that was wrong with the uniform the opposing coach was wearing.

That’s something else I noticed about Jeff, he was a stickler for details even as a young coach for that Pop Warner football team. That’s why we were so successful, that’s why Jeff’s teams in later years were so successful and that’s pretty much a trait of any successful coach or leader, their attention to details.

Congratulations Jeff on a life well-served.

SHARMAN, PART II

Last week I wrote about my interest in the HBO series “Winning Time” and finally getting around to watching the series because I wanted to see how — and if — 1944 Porterville High graduate Bill Sharman would be portrayed in the series. “Winning Time” is a mixture of legend and truth (see “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance)” about the rise of the Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasty in the 1980s and Sharman played an integral role in the rise of that dynasty.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised Sharman has had a significant role in what I’ve watched of the series so far. And Sharman has really been portrayed more favorably than anyone else in the series, sort of the level-headed guy who keeps his head while everyone else is losing theirs, particularly Jerry West. Their relationship is basically portrayed as Sharman always talking West off the ledge, which I believe is definitely taking a lot of license.

But Brett Cullen, who portrays Sharman, has said he hopes Sharman’s family and friends are happy with the portrayal and while I can only speak for myself, I’m happy with Cullen’s portrayal.

And I’m sure a lot of people who never heard of Sharman now know who he is as a result of the series as demonstrated by this story shared by Cullen. He was walking his dog and another guy was walking his dog and as they talked “Winning Time” somehow came up in the conversation.

The guy asked Cullen if he liked the show only to eventually realize, “Hey, you’re Bill Sharman.”