Reflecting on the Sports Reporters

By Garrett Whitt

Special to vincedadamo.blogspot.com

Last Sunday, marked the end of an era in sports journalism. The sports reporters, one of ESPN’s staples for its nearly 30-year run, had its final episode. It was a dark day for those of us who have a true appreciation for the craft of sportswriting which has largely become a lost art.

    

Far too many people in our business today are focused on voicing an opinion, with little concern for whether it is a reasoned or educated one.

Compounding the problem is the belief by many in the profession today that success is measured by how many readers you anger or insult. Informing your audience has become all too often secondary if not an afterthought when weighed against catching the reader’s eye and sparking a reaction out of them.    

     

After all, they read your story or column (or more accurately these days click on it) and in the end that is all that matters, right? Who cares what anyone else thinks especially your audience?

     

Fortunately, I have never subscribed to that theory. In fact, I have taken the opposite tack. This derives from something my father told me when I was very young. Know what you don’t know.

     

It is a lesson lost on many journalists who far too often use their position to preach to their audience rather than simply inform their audience.

  

Don’t get me wrong.  Everyone has a right to their opinion but far too few people understand when you voice your opinion you are first and foremost speaking for yourself, and while some in the audience may agree with you, to assume you are speaking for others can be risky. I am reminded of the old joke about the word assume.

When I write a column, I go to great pains to explain my position. My objective is to offer my perspective on a subject.

    

If a column I write sparks thought or discussion great but it is never my intention. Furthermore, I am under no illusion I am any smarter or more enlightened than my audience.

     

Clearly that view is not shared by many of my colleagues. Instead, many of my colleagues believe the exact opposite. And in fact, see it as not only their right but their obligation to use the bully pulpit of their position to advance an agenda at every opportunity, all in the name of making a difference.

  

Again, everybody is entitled to their opinions and free to express them but I also believe as a writer you owe it to your readers to treat them with respect because in the end it is more about them than you. If you don’t understand that you are insulting the readers’ intelligence. In the past, that was viewed by many as a mortal sin. Now, many media outlets wear their disdain for their readers and viewers as a badge of honor.

   

Then, they wonder why they continue to lose readers and viewers on a consistent basis.  In short there is a disconnect. Sadly, the disconnect seems to be only getting wider.

For proof of that just turn on any of the countless debate shows on television. Far too often the content discussed is overshadowed or drowned out altogether by the volume of the two combatants. It’s all in the name of entertainment.

 

I increasingly find myself to be a fish out of water with this type of journalism becoming the norm rather than the exception.

     

The Sports Reporters provided a safe haven for me. It was a place where the games and issues of the day were discussed—often passionately amongst the four panelists but every opinion was reasoned, authentic and arrived at honestly.

      

In the end the love of sports, the games and the people who play them were the focus.  There was something refreshingly old school about it.

     

Beyond that it assured me there was still a place where my approach to journalism was appreciated and celebrated.

     

Now I hope I can be that place for my readers.

Braves football seeking to prove 2016 not a trend

The Justin-Siena High football team begins spring practice on Monday with two narratives being equally true.

The first one is that second year head coach Brandon LaRocco hopes experience is his best teacher when it comes to being in the director’s chair. The second one is that the Braves hope to demonstrate that last season’s 3-7 record is an aberration, not a trend, after a 19-year run under former head coach Rich Cotruvo in which the program went 144-74 with six CIF North Coast Section titles.

Last season was a whirlwind for LaRocco, who is a 1998 Justin graduate that played for and coached under Cotruvo. The administration and Cotruvo, who has since become the head coach at Terra Linda, publically decided to part ways in April 2016 due to philosophical differences. The Braves quickly named LaRocco, who was a long time assistant, as the next head coach after Cotruvo was left.

LaRocco’s 2017 offseason has been a life-changer off the field with he and his spouse, Miranda, welcoming their second child into the world.

With a full calendar year of helmsmanship, LaRocco has had time to evaluate the program from his perspective along with the staff. LaRocco hopes that a full offseason of meetings and going to clinics translate to more victories along with improved technique and schemes.

Last season, Justin lost its opener 48-14 to Piedmont. Though it rebounded to beat Sacred Heart, 26-13, one week later, the team lost its next three games by a combined score of 139-6. The Braves were never the same. Injuries did the team no favors as well, including but not limited to quarterback Aidan Willard, who later signed a letter of intent to play for Oregon State.

“The first thing we tried to focus on was getting a better commitment from our team to the weight room, and while we made progress we still need to get better there,” LaRocco said. “Both Coach (Tyler) Streblow and I were first year coordinators last year, so having a season's worth of film to analyze and review has been huge.  There is no supplement for experience, everything looks unbeatable or unstoppable on paper.”  

By his own admission, LaRocco had to humble himself when the season was over.

“I learned a lot through the ups and downs of my first year as a head coach, and I am a much better for it,” LaRocco said. “I can’t tell you how grateful our staff is to last years team, particularly our seniors.  Despite our struggles those kids never gave up on us, they played their hearts out until the very last game.  It really says a lot about the quality of their character.”

If there is one luxury the Braves have being a CIF North Coast Section Div. IV team, they play schools of Div. II and III enrollments during the regular season. As a result, if Justin even goes 5-5, the playoffs are on the table.

The Braves begin spring practice on Monday. During the summer, Justin will compete in 7-on-7 passing league against fellow Napa Valley schools American Canyon, Napa, Vintage and St. Helena. The Braves will also partake in a 7-on-7 tournament at De La Salle in late June. The team will also have practice throughout the summer on a Monday-Thursday basis with a team retreat to the Russian River scheduled in July.

Justin has four nonleague games before beginning its 17th season in the Marin County Athletic League. Piedmont, Sacred Heart, Bishop O’Dowd and Hercules are the nonleague foes.

“The boys are definitely determined to improve upon last year’s record and get back to the playoffs,” LaRocco said. “Our numbers are also moving back up, last year we started the spring with just under 25 varsity players, and we have just over 30 to start this spring.  I think we all are hoping that the major aberration from last year was the number of injuries we had to deal with. We are really looking forward to getting backing on the field and representing our families, our schools, and the greater community with heart and pride.”  

For the Braves, 2017 is about rediscovering what the program was, as opposed to what they were in 2016.

Time Machine: 2004 St. Helena High football

Some seasons you witness and the team bursts onto the scene. You remember the team running into the lion’s den with a spear in hand yelling “Banshee! Where is the sucker!” as opposed to tiptoeing into the den.

That approach would describe the St. Helena High football team in 2004.

To appreciate how they got there, you have to understand the journey. In Bryan Powell’s two seasons as head coach in 2002-2003, the team went 10-11 but given the talent on those teams, such a record was viewed as a disappointment. Those teams included talented players like Lance Zepeda, JJ Warren, Peter Molinari, Gaetano Bettinelli, Blayne Rabanal, Nick Wignall and Sean Baswell to name a few.

Powell came from Idaho with an impressive resume that did not translate into success at St. Helena. Powell resigned in May 20, 2004, citing the lack of affordable cost of living in the Napa Valley. Six weeks later, the Saints would introduce Ian MacMillan as their next head coach.

The hiring of MacMillan, who was 25 at the time, was met with skepticism by some because he is a Justin-Siena alum and served as the Braves JV head coach for five seasons, going 38-11-1. At the time, Justin and St. Helena had a rivalry which began dissipating mainly as a result of the two teams joining different leagues after a 14-year stint in the Superior California Athletic League from 1986-2000. The Saints rejoined the North Central League I and Justin joined the Marin County Athletic League.

The Saints would enter the 2004 season with a small roster (18 players) that was not as talented as the previous two but very senior heavy with 12. With a new coach, I will normally exercise caution in my expectations because I don’t know how their system will translate to success.

I knew MacMillan was bringing the Houston Split Back Veer and the 3-4 defense. I knew the guy could motivate. I knew the team had guys with a strong work ethic like Carlo Trinchero, Luke McMullen, Eddie McMullen, Alex Wignall, and Robert Covey to name a few.

So you have a head coach that can motivate. You have a roster of players with a strong work ethic. I thought, “Those qualities will take you a long way. In fact, you might win a game or two you may not anticipate now.” I recall before the season thinking, 6-4 was a realist goal and with a break or two 7-3 would be a possibility.

Lo and behold, St. Helena went 9-2, reaching the first round of the CIF North Coast Section Class a playoffs only to lose to John Swett 24-14.

Speaking of Covey, he was an offensive tackle under Powell. MacMillan turned him into a running back and all he did was resemble a high school version of John Riggins and Tom Rathman, rushing for a then school record of 1,653 yards and 22 touchdowns.

The crowning moment was a 48-26 win at Salesian (Richmond). Covey ran for 266 yards on 29 carries and five touchdowns. I remember speaking to referee Gregg Bell at halftime. Bell recalled Luke McMullen, who was the Saints quarterback, calling 16-veer in the huddle for eight consecutive plays.

MacMillan would make another position change that benefited the season. On offense, he moved Trinchero from tight end to running back. Trinchero is one of the fiercest competitors I had a chance to cover in my 18-year career. That quality could be a blessing and a curse. Defensively, Trinchero was a tackling machine recording 157 stops (112 solo) on the way to becoming NCL I Defensive MVP along with Defensive Player of the Year on the All-Napa County team and Redwood Empire Defensive MVP. Trinchero also had two interceptions and two blocked field goals. He made a seamless transition to running back. Trinchero ran for 626 yards on 81 carries and four touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 252 yards and a score.

The Saints lone regular season loss came in Game 4, which was a 12-6 defeat to NCL I champ Willits, which reached the NCS Class A title game only to lose 28-0 to Justin. St. Helena’s next three wins were by a combined score of 129-38 (66-14 over Lower Lake; 28-6 over Clear Lake; 35-18 over Cloverdale).

St. Helena finished with three straight road game (Middletown, Fort Bragg and Kelseyville). The 21-18 win over Middletown is one I will always remember:

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2015/07/time-machine-st-helena-at-middletown.html

The Saints plateaued after that win holding off Fort Bragg (18-14) and Kelseyville (20-13) before losing to John Swett 24-14 in the NCS Class A playoffs.

When I look at the 2004 Saints, I later saw St. Helena football teams have more postseason success. This Saints team, however, is at least among those that should be remembered.

Time machine: 2009 Calistoga High boys and girls soccer

Do you ever witness games of a sport where your knowledge is passable by not great, yet once you become immersed in watching the team, you can’t help but celebrate their success.

By my own admission, I do not have the in-depth knowledge of soccer like I do football or a few other sports. However, I had two rules as a sports reporter: a) Regardless of sport, every sport from football to golf would have coverage space in my sports section and b) When it came to celebrating success, I was an equal opportunity celebrator, even if I was not fond of the sport. Putting your ego aside in place of celebrating success is a good quality that takes you a long way.

By my own admission Part II, I’m not a soccer fan but in 2009, I was “all in” when it came to celebrating the victories of Calistoga High boys and girls soccer. The two sides had two distinctly different narratives:

Calistoga boys

The Wildcats reached the CIF North Coast Section Div. III championship game only to lose 2-1 in double-overtime to the Branson (Ross) Bulls.

To appreciate the team’s success, you have to understand the journey. The term “team of destiny” sounds trite but this team had that look throughout the postseason.

Playoff appearances were nothing new to the Wildcats in boys soccer. They have been there every year since 2002 — and under three different coaches (Jack McMahon, Arturo Mendoza and Carlos Garcia) — but never got past Round Two.

Calistoga had many postseason disappointments when it had the look of a team that would go a long way.

The double-overtime loss at home to Mendocino in 2003. The 2-0 loss at home to Justin-Siena in 2004. The 3-2 home loss to Head Royce in 2005. The 2-1 overtime loss at St. Helena in 2007. The 7-6 penalty kick loss at home to Branson in 2008.

Those teams featured stars that were goal-scoring machines like Juan Ramos, Beto Mendoza and Edwin Meza.

I talked to Garcia before the 2009 season, and he was coming off a year in which he would lose 12 seniors — many that played vital roles, including Meza.

“This year, I know I have to work hard with the guys,” Garcia said when I interviewed him for the preseason preview story. “It’s not going to be an easy year, but we’re going to do our best. You know me. I’m working hard to get the kids prepared.”

In past seasons, the Wildcats had so many blowout wins that they were not prepared for the postseason. While Calistoga had its share of decisive wins in 2009, it also had a few bumpy roads, such as a 4-0 loss to Anderson Valley and a 4-3 defeat to Roseland Prep. In fact, the Wildcats struggled in a 4-3 win over lowly Tomales.

Honestly, if you told me that the Wildcats would reach the section title game before the season began, I would have asked if you were heavily medicated.

They got to the playoffs and earned the No. 4 seed. They edged Bentley 2-1 in a game that probably should have been 5-1, since Calistoga dominated the possession time and had several shots on goal not convert.

Calistoga blanked No. 13 Fort Bragg 3-0 at home one round later and knocked off top-seeded and three-time reigning champion Marin Academy 3-1. Though Calistoga was seeded lower, it got to host the game based on Marin Academy not having lights at its facility. That scenario turned into a big equalizer, since Marin Academy’s facility is on FieldTurf while Calistoga plays on natural grass.

When I look back at the 2009 Wildcats, I see a team that maybe lacked the star power of previous teams, but was a more well-oiled machine — and Garcia deserves ample credit.

Throughout the season, the Wildcats were led by Michel Arroyo, Mario Sanchez, Cristian Escobedo, Jose Molina and Andres Hernandez. Arroyo later went on to play soccer for Sonoma State University.

Calistoga girls

Calistoga entered its 10th season of fielding girls soccer in 2009. The first decade of existence, however, brought minimal success to celebrate. Unlike their male counterparts, Calistoga girls soccer only had two seasons of postseason contention but followed up the next season by taking a step backward.

In 2003, the Wildcats were 8-8-2 but went 6-9-2 the following season. In 2005, Calistoga went 8-6-2 only to go 7-10 the next season. In 2008, Stephanie Dietz stepped in to become the Wildcats head coach after going 2-10-1 the previous season. Dietz’s debut saw mostly bumpy roads with a couple baby steps in going 4-10.

The 2009 campaign was at times choppy but by season’s end, the Wildcats made a strong push to reach the postseason for the first time in school history.

The pinnacle of Calistoga’s season was its 3-2 win over Rincon Valley Christian (Santa Rosa). The Wildcats could not have scripted their first postseason appearance in school history any better if they tried.

Not only did Calistoga get a win in its first postseason stint, but the victory came against an RVC program that had given the Wildcats nothing but headaches in previous years.

The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead at halftime as Krysta Carrillo scored a pair of first-half goals. Carrillo then provided an assist on the Wildcats’ third goal, which Leticia Avina scored.

That goal proved vital as the Eagles came back aggressively by scoring two goals with just minutes remaining in the contest, but Calistoga held off the charge. The backline defense of Maria Escobedo and goalkeeper Megan Hunt along with the midfield play of Jenna Reynolds, Wendy Garcia and Lupita Mendoza sealed the win.

Though the season ended three days later with an 8-0 loss to eventual champion Sonoma Academy, 2009 was a season of triumph for Calistoga.  Dietz knew her team would eventually succeed, but it was hard to say how soon.

If I were to point to a pivotal time, it would be a 3-2 loss to Roseland Prep (Santa Rosa), which also reached the postseason. The next game was a 5-0 loss to Sonoma Academy to drop to 3-4-1. From there, the Wildcats would go 5-2-1.

Rabanal, Luelsdorf's legacy was continuing legacies

Even though you are over two years removed from a career,  you have those moments you see from afar that hit home for you personally.

For me, that time came today as I checked my Facebook news feed that included a link to a published report in the St. Helena Star’s online edition. The report confirmed that both Benny Rabanal and Marc Luelsdorf, who were the Saints volleyball and girls soccer head coaches, were stepping down from their posts.

Since I am over two years removed from being a sports reporter, I don’t know if the decisions of these two men were in the works previously but when it hit the public domain, the story piqued my interest.

In my 18 years as a sports reporter, I was fortunate enough to spend 10 on the Upvalley beat that covered St. Helena and Calistoga. On the Saints side, the team’s Rabanal and Luelsdorf coached were prominent figures many weeks in my sports section.  

Rabanal had been coaching since 1987, serving alongside former Saints head coaches Donna McCornack, Ouvidio Gomes, Walter Boncato and Herschel Sandler before taking the reigns as the head Saint in 2000. Rabanal coached both the JV and varsity teams.

In that span, St. Helena won the North Central League I title 13 times in 16 seasons, it was just a matter of would the title be sole possession or shared. Translation, the NCL I foes spent years chasing the Saints.

The 2005 and 2016 campaigns were among the few down years. The former was an 8-24 season that saw the team lose outside hitter Haley Mannix to a torn ACL. The team was never the same. Last season, the Saints went 13-14 overall and 9-5 in NCL I, finishing tied for third. St. Helena reached the CIF North Coast Section Div. III playoffs only to get swept by eventual runner-up St. Joseph (Alameda).

The high points of the Rabanal era came in 2003 and 2010, both teams reached the NCS Div. IV title game, losing to Justin-Siena and Marin Catholic respectively. The 2010 team reached the NorCal tournament as the No. 8 seed and upset top-seeded Ripon in five games. That Saints team was led by Maddy Densberger, whom I consider in a select group of student-athletes I had the privilege of covering. Densberger later starred at Sonoma State University.

Like Rabanal, Luelsdorf enjoyed a long tenure with the Saints, 14 years to be exact, with the last six being as the varsity head coach. Under his guidance, the Saints have won at least one NCS Div. III playoff game the last five seasons. The high point was 2011, which was his first taking over for Milton Gallegos. That season, the Saints reached the NCS Div. III title game only to lose to St. Vincent (Petaluma) 1-0. Last season, St. Helena went 13-4-2 including a satisfying 1-0 win over NCL I nemesis Clear Lake and a NCS Div. III postseason upset over No. 2 seeded El Molino (Forestville).

The volleyball program has a replacement with Lauren Dickson set to take the helm. Dickson, joined the Saints last season as Rabanal’s assistant.  Dickson stared at Los Altos High before becoming an All-Big 12 player and dean’s list selection for the University of Colorado. Her husband, Roger, grew up in St. Helena.

The girls soccer program is seeking a replacement for Luelsdorf said Saints athletic director Tom Hoppe.

The biggest thing that stands out to me about the legacies of both Rabanal and Luelsdorf is that the narratives are similar. With St. Helena volleyball, I will always consider McCornack the trailblazer, not just because she led the Saints to two CIF State titles but because of her role in making girls athletics more mainstream. With St. Helena girls soccer, I will always consider Gallegos the trailblazer. The Saints started girls soccer as a program in 1996. While the program did not win at a high level under Peter Weber, he sowed the seeds. When Gallegos arrived in 2002, the Saints became a consistent winner. They continued that trend under Luelsdorf.

While you could say that both were more of caretakers of talent than developers of such, there’s something to be said for sustaining success, which is not as easy as some might think.

The New York Giants floundered after Bill Parcells handed over a ready made roster for Ray Handley in 1991. That didn’t turn out so well. Two playoff-less seasons later, Handley was fired.

The college, pro and high school ranks have ample stories like this one and those who kept the winning legacy going for a short period of time, only to see the success flame out a few years later.

I will always have a special fondness for both Rabanal and Luelsdorf for selfish reasons. Both were very media friendly. Throughout my career, I enjoyed a very good working relationship with most every coach I interacted with regularly. The regularly negative one (aka “Pricks I Covered” list) has reached maybe three fingers. Win or lose, Rabanal and Luelsdorf were gracious with their time. That quality is not easy to maintain. I’ve dealt with coaches that were happy-go-lucky in wins but crotchety in losses.

In an era where many overvalue sideline histrionics, these guys had a demeanor that was similar regardless of outcome. That demeanor drove their critics crazy but I feel different, when it comes to personality coaches and players have to do what fits them. No style is any more right or wrong than the other, I’ve seen both Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden lead their teams to titles.

Regardless of win-loss records, those coaching at the high school level and lower do it as a labor of love. Rabanal and Luelsdorf did it for a long time.

Going to games, watching at home each have benefits

I'm going to let you in on a not-so-shocking revelation. Even the most decisive people change their mind every once in awhile.

Somebody once asked me, do you like watching sports better in person or on TV?

I found that question perplexing at the time, since I went to a zillion games in person as it pertains to my former profession of sports reporter for 18 years. I’ve also been to a zillion as a fan.

Anyhow, it dawned on me later that this person was referring more to college or pro sports events. Not that I'm an old man, but when I was younger (say late teens to mid 20s), I would have almost assuredly preferred to go to the games whether it was pro or college.

As much of a sports fan as I am, this is going to surprise you, I have not been to a college or professional sporting event since 2011. The older I get the more I see the benefit of watching the game from home. For one thing, simply getting to the game is a headache.

In fact, I have not been to a college or pro sports event as a spectator since I went to a San Francisco Giants-Milwaukee Brewers game in 2011. Being a parent of three and trying to put them through Catholic schools, sacrifices must be made. I’ve had my fill of going to games, if it means giving up something for my kids, I’m all for it.

However, I’ll never take off my sports fan hat.

Truth be known, there is nothing like being at the stadium on gameday because you can feel the excitement that you can't get on TV.

However, every year an increasing number of middle class -- and even upper class -- fans get priced out of going to the games, which lessens the desire to go as frequently as one might have at an earlier point in their lives.

I do not believe in grumbling about ticket and food prices because fans are part of that problem, too. After all, owners are going to keep jacking up the price until fans say no, but I digress.

The big events (i.e. postseason games) are an arm, a leg and goodness knows which other body parts.

Of course, when you are at the game, it takes all kinds when it comes to fans as well. Because the ticket prices are so jacked up, you have two extremes in thought.

For starters, there's the elitists who might be sitting behind home plate, at the 50-yard line or courtside. The most prime example are the celebrities you see with courtside seats when the Lakers are TV. Some of them might not know midcourt from midfield.

Sometimes you wonder if they are legit fans. For example, they could be sitting behind home plate at AT & T Park. Buster Posey or Hunter Pence could hit a weak flyball with the outfielder coming in and that same fan might be going nuts thinking it's a three-run homer.

Then, there's the other extreme — the guy who might have taken out a second mortgage on his house with the face paint, foam finger and beer in each hand. You've got to watch out for that guy because the decibel level in his voice might not be for your taste and he might spill his beverage on you.

There is a plus side of being at the game, even if your seats are not the greatest. For starters, you're not at the TV producers' mercy and can look at things that the camera does not have in focus. You watch the defensive captain huddle with the defensive coordinator.

You also don't have to wait for color commentators like Ron Darling to tell you the infield is drawn in when the runner is at third with less than two outs. Of course, the infield could be playing back, in essence trading a run for an out.

On the other hand, the downside might be your seat not being in the right spot to see the game's crucial play, whereas there are eight zillion TV cameras. If one misses the key play, another one will get it, which means you can see the replay at home from several angles.

Replay challenges for football games are a prime example because you never know if they'll show it on the big stadium screen.

Then, there's the matter of your team winning or losing. Not that I look at going to the game as "business." After all, we deal in terms of business at our place of employment every day and that's a good time to leave that part of my life behind for a few hours. Plus, it's the players' and coaches' job to win the games, whereas for me as a fan it's a time to get away from the daily business end of our lives.

Anyhow, if your team is the home team and wins, everything's great and you celebrate among your fellow fans. If your team is the home team and loses, the good news is you have others to commiserate with — but the bad news is that some fans might act like a car ran over their pet.

And let's face it, your favorite team losing a game is not a "real" problem in the grand scheme of things.

That isn't even the worst situation. Suppose your team is the visiting team and loses. Everyone around you is applauding and you're not. Well, as long as I see the game, I'm a happy guy. I just find myself happier doing it from my Archie Bunker chair at home.

Time machine: Two years of driving the Golden Girls around town

There are some jobs you take even if you have no idea what lies in front of you. Then, you realize what a life-changer the job becomes.

That would describe my two-year stint as bus driver for the Springs of Napa, which is an independent living facility for senior citizens in Napa, CA.

In December 2014, I left behind the only career I knew, sports journalist. However, due to the declining state of the industry, I began sowing the seeds for my exit in March 2012. Three months later, I passed three written DMV tests as well as my DOT physical to get my CDL Class B permit. In October 2012, I spent two weeks at Falcon Trucking School in Vallejo, CA, to pass my behind the wheel test and earn my Class B license.

My chance at transitioning out of the newspaper industry was to work part-time in another field while juggling my full-time job. Being a father of three, that would be a challenge but it was necessary. In January 2013, I landed a job with MV Transportation, which is a transit bus company in Fairfield, CA. I did not want the job but I had to take it in order to shake the “no experience” tag.

Six weeks later, I discovered the Springs of Napa needed a bus driver. Within two days, I interviewed with Tom Pietrantonio and Peter Beloberk, manager and co-manager respectively. I sold them on being a native Napan and knowing my way around town along with representing my community and family the right way. They told me how dealing with elderly would require patience and compassion. The latter, I have never had issues. I am as compassionate as the day is long. The former, however, not so much, having three toddlers at the time.

The job would involve transporting residents to doctor appointments, hair appointments and shopping trips, etc. The previous bus driver had resigned and the facility was without bus service for three weeks. They convinced me that I would be an instant hero because they finally had bus service. Before my first day on the job, I asked myself, “I’m 40 years old. I’ll be dealing with mostly elderly women. How is this generational gap going to work?”

Then I discovered something pretty amazing: a) Treat them like they matter and they’ll return the favor, b) Resign yourself to the idea that you’re not going to change them.

Within a few weeks, I became like a surrogate grandson and/nephew to them. I was blessed to have four loving grandparents and remain blessed with two loving parents. I’ve also been blessed to have many loving aunts and uncles. These ladies, however, made me feel important because I made them feel valued. Being a young male bus driver, I would also get kidding but innocent remarks like, “We’re so lucky to have a handsome young man drive us around.”

I could a tell a zillion stories about this job but in a nutshell, it felt like driving The Golden Girls (i.e. Betty White & Co) around town. There are four stories that keep flashing through my brain:

I’m going for a ride with you, Kid

Isabella Gore, who died in June 2016 at 95 had a gruff exterior but if she liked you, she was as sweet as apple pie. I was one of the lucky ones. She referred to herself as “Izzy.” How many 90-year old Izzys are out there? Near the front of the building, there was a passenger log. Residents would sign their name and put their destination. I never required people to sign their name but I always preferred they did so in the interest of planning my route.

So I made a copy of the signout sheet each day. After doing my 15-minute pre-trip inspection of the bus, I drove it in front of the building. As passengers are lining up to enter the bus, I’m looking at the sheet. I see Izzy in line but I don’t see her name on the the list. So I ask, “Where are you headed, Izzy?” She quipped: “I’m going for a ride with you, kid.” I quipped back: “So you’re just escaping from here for a little bit?” She smiles: “You’re damn right, kid.” Hop on board, I say.

Izzy called everybody, “Kid.” Even if you were a fellow 90-year old. Lo and behold, at least three other residents followed her lead on later bus trips. One day, I had more residents looking to escape than I had ones that had to go somewhere.

The near brawl that I feared

The activities director had abruptly quit. She was responsible for driving residents to recreational trips. Her resignation meant that I was responsible for transporting and playing chaperone. There was a resident named Lorraine, who was suffering dementia, that signed up for the trip. Though the bus had no assigned seating, both Lorraine and Izzy always insisted on having the front seat of the bus even if there were other vacant ones.

So I drive the bus near the front of the building. Lorraine leans into the path, luckily 50-or-so feet away. So I wave my arms to tell her to get back under the canopy. Instead she walks toward the bus doors, which open outward. I gesture with my arms for her to move away from the bus so the door does not hit her as they open. She obliges but then rushes to the front seat. As I walk by Izzy, the feisty one clenches her fist, “I’m gonna punch that damn woman right in the nose!”

At this point I’m nervous having to juggle the roles of bus driver and chaperone, so I check in with Tom and his wife, Liz, to alert them. Liz quips: “Just make sure they stay out of jail!” I’m chuckling: “With Izzy and Lorraine that might be an issue.” Fortunately Liz diffused the situation.

So Izzy and Lorraine are sitting next to each other. I remember the whole trip with baited breath thinking, “Am I going to have to break up two 90-year olds with canes and walkers from smacking the hell out of each other.”

The white haired lady with glasses

Perhaps the single funniest moment on the bus one day became a running joke. So I mention a resident’s name and another one asks, “Who’s she?” Without even thinking about what I was saying, I blurted out, “The white-haired lady with glasses.”

The infamous Izzy chimes in, “That REALLY narrows it down, kid!”

Maintaining a friendship

When I use the term “maintaining a friendship,” I don’t necessarily refer to as doing things socially with them. However, once a month, I stop by the Springs of Napa at lunch-time to visit them. Seeing the smiles on their faces when I tell them “I just came by to visit” makes their day. Honestly, it makes mine too.

It still amazes to me to this day that when I interviewed for this job, I did it to simply gain experience so I could get out of a dying industry. The friendships that this job morphed into, however, mean way more than CDL Class B driving could ever mean.