Ten years of fun working in the ‘toy department’

Robert Plant and Jimmy Page once wrote, “Then as it was, then again it will be. And though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea.”

Like Led Zeppelin, it’s now been “Ten Years Gone” for myself, only instead of rocking out at stadiums across the world, my last ten years have been inside smaller stadiums, gyms and diamonds covering prep and college sports for the Vallejo Times-Herald.

It’s hard to believe that much time has gone by. Sometimes Jan. 12, 2011 seems like yesterday and sometimes it feels even longer than a decade. I’ve enjoyed my time so far with the paper immensely. While I also enjoy working news features and breaking stories for the A section, my real first true love with journalism was sports and it will always be my favorite section to cover. It’s like working in the toy department.

From 2011 to now I’ve seen so many superb events, whether at the Bruin’s Lair, Corbus Field, CC Sabathia Field, Bottari Gym, Drolette Stadium or Wolf Den Stadium.

Although I love covering an event at any venue, my favorite probably has to be Cal Maritime for men’s or women’s basket-

ball games. I just love the environment. Although smaller than Donald Trump’s heart, even the old Mayo Hall was awesome. The fans would be right on top of you cheering and also unleashing some well-timed witty jeers to its opponents. I’ll never forget the late great Keelhaulers scorekeeper Frank Dye showing me the ropes and helping a young reporter out as far back as my stringing days. Sitting next to him was an honor.

The Keelhaulers’ new gym is much larger, but the thrill is still there for myself. Watching all the great teams guided by Bryan and Brendan Rooney was so much fun, I almost would forget I was on the job at times. So many great players came through that gym like Daniel Radford, Phil Randles, Zavier Lucero, Alexis Brown and Josh Hauser just to name a few.

Although I absolutely love covering games with other paper’s reporters most of the time, I still always find it funny when I am the only journalist in the gym and a media timeout is called. “Hmm, a nice little timeout for me to get caught up, why thank you.”

When Bryan Rooney called me into the locker room for a speech in 2017 after a Keelhaulers win to address to his team that he needed players that worked as hard as myself in my profession … well that is a moment that will always stand out. Trying to avoid a tear or two in that moment was like keeping Gordan Ramsey away from a kitchen.

Another cool venue has always been the Bruin’s Lair, whether for basketball or volleyball. Basketball games were always jam packed and it has been thrilling to see exceptional players like Robbie Herndon, Jason Webster, Tameiya Sadler, Ashmeen Sran, Tavian Henderson, BJ Standley, Jalen Canty and Dishon Jackson play.

If I need someone to hit a big shot in basketball for me at the buzzer I’ll go with either Henderson, Herndon, Stanley, Chance McMillian, Rodney Cook, Devin Johnson, Sadler, Oliver Andahl, Malik Ghiden or Tajai Johnson. You think the Nets have a problem with Harden, Durant and Irving? Who gets the last shot between all those stellar high school players?

In soccer give me stars like Juan Perez, Michele Li, George Binda, Cristian Rodas, Alexci Johnson, Alicia Perez or Robyn Rowley. If I need a goal, all of the above can provide me one.

I’ve enjoyed talking to players that were stars in Vallejo before I worked in town. Athletes such as C.J. Anderson, CC Sabathia, Tony Longmire, Mark Muñoz and Bobby Brooks.

I also loved covering water polo matches, track and field events, and wrestling matches. If I need someone to be my body guard for the next few years I’ll take grapplers like Alyssa Wong, Ricki Liang, Mason Boutain, Christian Ramos, Shelly Avelino, Alyssa Gonzalez or Forrest Molinari.

During the start of the decade volleyball games at St. Pat’s was always fun to cover as they were colorful, rowdy and full of chants that had probably been practiced during the week by the student body. However, the best part of the matches has always been on the court as Gabe Domecus, Matthew Peretto, Paige Reed, Aiden Taylor, Nolan Fey and Malia Bolko shined more often than not.

Guiding those teams was Danette Domecus, who always gave her time after matches to give myself a good quote for a story, if she wasn’t crying at the same time because she cares for her players. Other coaches I enjoyed talking to over the years included Josh Ramos, Mike Wilson,

Mike Wilson III, Kristin Grubbs, Jim Bowles, Eliot Palmer, Craig Holden, Jeff Turner, Dwayne

Jones, Duke Brown, Lane Hawkins, Brett Wedding, Matt Brown, John Montante, Larry Singer and Ian MacMillan.

I’ll always remember MacMillan going for two instead of kicking the extra point in a crucial playoff game against Christian Brothers in 2013. His American Canyon team didn’t convert, but I remember thinking at the time, “That’s a coach I would want to play for. He believes in his team.”

I’d also play for Holden, not only because of his knowledge of the game, but because he occasionally cracks me up with his humor. Same thing with Turner. Year after year I’d walk the length of the Bethel campus to the practice football field to discuss his new team only to hear him shout out at me, “You’re still here???” as a joke. I could also see myself playing for Ramos, just because I think he coaches baseball the right way. Same thing with

Matt Brown.

I’ve seen a lot of talented baseball players. If I need a base hit for my life I’m going with either Willie Calhoun, Daniel Johnson, Deijah Pangilinan or Kendall Core. Someone to pitch a big game? I’m going either Peter Reyes, Nate Freeman, Jesse Rodriguez, Grace French, Lisa Bolton or McKenna Gregory. Gregory’s ERA was so minuscule, you needed the Gran Telescopio Canarias to see it. If I need someone to run down a fly ball in the outfield I’ll take James Terrell Jr. or Joe Price.

I’ve seen many legends in football too. I need a touchdown on fourth and goal, I’ll go with Akil Edwards and Marshel Martin in the backfield. The options on a new Mercedes isn’t as appealing as that. Giving the rock to Jomon Dotson couldn’t hurt either. Other great backs I’ve seen include Evan Austrie, K’lan Anderson, T.Y. Hunter, Austin Carr (before he was a star WR in the NFL) If I need a big catch I might have someone like Marquel Johnson, Devin

Bracy, Weston Carr or Chris Seisay. If I need a defensive player to make a big stop I want Nate Gutierrez, the late great Daseion Cole, Seisay, Chad Miller or Darius McNorton.

There are so many other super athletes I’ve seen it would be impossible to list them all. If I forgot you I apologize, I’m getting older and forgetting things and I assure you it was a pleasure to watch you compete.

I’m looking forward to having this pandemic end, so I can enjoy watching another decade of exciting athletes and games.