Time out with Ron Duvall (2001 Justin-Siena High graduate)

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout
your life?

Ron Duvall: I didn’t know it when I was competing, looking back, the part I most enjoyed
was the mental and physical preparation. I believe it is this part of athletic competition that
has allowed me to be successful in life.

D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?

Duvall: A couple of years after graduation, I moved to Anchorage, Alaska.  I received a
Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Alaska
Anchorage and have since received a Master’s Degree in Information Security from Boston
University.  I now live in Sitka, Alaska with my wife and two children, where I work as the
IT Director for the City of Sitka. I am also the Captain of Sitka Mountain Rescue, which
conducts wilderness search and rescue operations in the region. My family and I enjoy
getting out as much as we can; fishing, hunting, camping, and exploring.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Justin-Siena High?

Duvall: Mr. Chapman’s Chemistry Class, there is something more soothing than a well
balance chemical equations.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Justin-Siena High?

Duvall: Can I say my three favorite? This is fun, I really have not thought back to this time
in my life in a really long time. 1. Winning Baseball Sections my junior year, we were
expected to win and we did so in dominant fashion. 2. Winning Football Sections my senior
year. We were not expected to win, but we did so in dominate fashion anyway. 3. Breaking
a 4-5 year drought of losing our Homecoming Game my senior year.

D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating from
high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?

Duvall: I have to say, this is the hardest question for me in this deck. I would like to think
that I have grown significantly since High School, I know I have matured for sure. Looking
back at high school and the athletics I participated in during that time and after, I was really
focused on the little things. I was focused on my own little world; how many times did I get
a base hit, how many times did I strike out, how many tackles or catches, and even who will
go to prom with me. To a certain extent that has not changed much, except the focus is now
on my family and providing for them. However, I do feel that I have gained the ability to
see big picture and have a better understanding how a single person affects the environment
they are in.  While I may not have known it then, the preparation for each and every game
was practice in preparing for real life. I take some of the same preparation principles from
Coach Rossi and Coach Cotruvo and apply them to my everyday life.

D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?

Duvall: Growing up, most definitely my Dad. He was the person I always wanted to grow up
to be. While I still look up to him and appreciate his influence on my kiddos, my wife is now
the most influential person in my life.  She is my best friend and my own personal motivator.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most
like to meet.

Duvall: Vin Scully. He has witnessed so many moments in sports that an evening with him
would be a dream come true.

Changing mascot names are a slippery slope

While an earthquake did not hit Napa, CA, Thursday night like it did in August 2014,
there was definitely a seismic shift on another front.

To the non-surprise but chagrin of some and delight of others, the Napa Valley Unified
School District Board of Education voted unanimously to change the mascot name of
both the Napa High Indians and Redwood Middle School Warriors. Within the past year,
school board meetings have been amplified with both supporters and detractors of the
change.

The Indian mascot will be officially retired on June 30, 2018. The new name is not decided
at the present time.  

Napa High will have until next February to identify a new name and logo, and it must
replace all Indian imagery by June 30, 2021.

Redwood Middle School will also have until June 2021 to replace the current Warriors
imagery with something else.

Changes such as this one have occurred throughout the United States in recent years. Those
in favor of such moves normally make arguments that include but are not limited to using
Native American names and images being offensive and racist to indigenous people.

Supporters of such mascot names insist that the names honor Native Americans rather than
stereotyping them. Such people also lambaste those in favor of the change because of
political correctness.

The view on mascots and what they represent is in the eye of the beholder. That said, I am
not in favor of changing such mascots but to those who oppose my view, I’m not going to
change them. While I’m a firm believer in everyone having the right to their point of view,
the pitfalls are that regardless of issue, too many people think their opinion represents all.
It does not, it only represents yours and those who share your point of view. I have met
those with Native American roots say they don’t like what the mascot depictions represent.
However, I have met countless other utter things to the effect of “I’m part Choctaw, Mayan
Indian, etc, and I don’t find it offensive.” My point is, if it doesn’t bother them, why should
it bother me?

Some of the changes seen in Northern California include but are not limited to Salesian
(Richmond) High going from Chieftons to Pride. Kelseyville went from Indians to Knights.
Vallejo High went from Apaches to Redhawks. Napa Valley College went from Superchiefs
to Storm. Sonoma State went from Cossacks to Seawolves.

Changes like this appear well-intended on the surface but serve as an opening to undraw
other lines. What’s next, bird lovers don’t want names like Cardinals or Eagles? Atheists
don’t want names like Saints? Can you say “slippery slope?” I could name countless other
examples but in the interest of space, I won’t.

As one who graduated from the University of Nebraska, I was there when the marketing
staff began making a push to go from Cornhuskers to Huskers. The perception was that
those on the coastal states thought of Nebraskans as a bunch of hayseeds. As if changing
the mascot name was going to suddenly change people’s perceptions.

The timing of the change for Napa High and Redwood Middle School also shows the
NVUSD’s stupidity. The district is $12 million in debt and with enrollment on the sharp
decline because of housing costs driving families out, that figure is not likely to be in the
black any time soon.

Changing murals, gym floors, band/athletic uniforms and more will cost $150,000 on the
low end and $220,000 on the high end per year for the next three years. Does the phrase,
“putting the cart before the horse” mean anything to you? While we’re at it, does the
phrase of “spending money you don’t have” mean anything to you?

The controversy began when members of the Vallejo-based Sacred Sites Protection & Rights
of Indigenous Tribes (SSPIRIT) showed up at a school board meeting in October 2015 and
demanded the Indian be replaced.

Suffice it to say, the change rigged the game of a board being stacked with those in favor
of the mascot name.

This change is also bound to have some other unintended consequences. Here’s a story that
should serve as a cautionary tale.

I was talking to the Vallejo High Athletic Director Josh Ramos last October when covering
the American Canyon-Vallejo football game as a freelance writer for the Napa Valley Register.
I covered Ramos at a different point in my career (early 2000s) when he was a student-athlete
at Vallejo while his father (Tony) was the athletic director at crosstown rival Jesse Bethel.
Ramos told me that Vallejo High lost a lot of alumni support as a result of their mascot change
from Apaches to Redhawks. It made me think of what we are facing here in Napa.

Loss of support also adds up to loss of dollars. It could also lead to more votes of “No” on
any measures pertaining to NVUSD tax bonds. The lost support could take multiple decades
to regain.

If you don't think it can happen in Napa, you are naive. Look no further than a half hour
South of us.

Time Out with Kelli Connolly Larose -- 1992 Justin-Siena High graduate

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics
throughout your life?

Kelli Connolly Larose: I have loved sports, both as a fan and a player, since I was
very young. I am a competitive person by nature, so athletics allowed me to use
that quality in a productive way. Being on the field helped me to mentally enter a
zone that provided a unique sense of calm and contentment. I enjoy being part of
a team, striving to be a leader by example and contribute to something greater than
myself. The exhilarating and euphoric adrenaline rush from a big victory is the best
feeling I have ever experienced.

D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?

Larose: I went to UCSD after high school and played softball for the Tritons for
three years. After earning my degree, I worked in the golf club RD department at
Titleist while I went to graduate school. I received a Master’s Degree in Counseling
Psychology and became licensed as both a Marriage and Family Therapist and
Licensed Professional Counselor. I have been working for a hospital in north
county San Diego for the past 13 years, and am the Clinical Supervisor for the
intensive outpatient behavioral health program that treats individuals with various
Mood Disorders, Schizophrenia, and PTSD. My husband and I have been together
for almost 22 years, and we will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary this year.
We have a son who turns 16 this year and always keeps us busy. The family’s
shared passion for sports has us on a quest to visit all 30 major league ballparks.
We are just about half way there.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Justin-Siena High?

Larose: It is very difficult to pick just one. I loved my academic experience at

Justin, and have fond memories of Religion with Ms. Clarke, Math/Computer
Programming with Mrs. Digiacomo, History with Mr. Foletta, and of course English
with Bob Morrish. I was the only person in Latin with Mr. Tres during my senior
year, which was definitely an interesting experience.These teachers greatly helped
prepare me for both college academics and life in general.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Justin-Siena High?

Larose: I would have to say it was going to CIF sections during my senior year.
That was a great season, with memorable wins and the opportunity to play with
a greatteam. Having the honor of being coached by John O’Connor was an athletic

experience like no other that I have ever had, and I am grateful to have been

given the blessing of playing for him.

D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating
from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?

Larose: I think I have grown quite a bit since high school in a variety of areas. Work

ethic, determination, perseverance and loyalty are qualities that were

fostered in athletics and have aided me through many life experiences.

D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?

Larose: Without a doubt, my parents. Their unconditional love and support for my

sister and me, coupled with their hard work as providers, gave me a strong

foundation for life. My father has continuously taught me how to overcome

adversity, to never give up and to be confident in myself. My love for

athletics as both a player and fan stems from him. He was a great athlete

himself, as was my grandfather who played minor league ball in the

Cardinals Organization in the early 1940’s. My mother taught me about

selflessness and helping others, to not be so serious all of the time, to be

kind to myself and others, and to treat everyone with respect. She was an

amazing person. Sadly, she passed away eight years ago, and I miss her

presence in my life daily. They both conveyed the ability to use humor in

the ups and downs in life. My grandparents were role models for me in

many areas. My grandmother was an amazing and strong woman who

exemplified a unique quality of elegance, a love for family, assertiveness,

courage, selflessness and determination. I couldn’t have asked for a more

blessed upbringing. Finally, there is my husband. Being with him for

almost half of my life now has been one of the greatest gifts I have been

given. He has helped me grow in so many ways by being a loving role

model that embodies loyalty, integrity and determination. He has a unique

balance of emotion and reason that I admire and try to learn from.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you
would most like to meet.

Larose: This is another tough one. I guess I would have to say either Martin Luther

or Eleanor Roosevelt. Both made a tremendous impact for people in very different
ways, but provided a message of hope, courage, determination and faith.

Time Out with Mike Savage -- 1999 Justin-Siena graduate

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics
throughout your life?

Mike Savage: I enjoyed putting my best efforts forward with my teammates for the
common goal.

D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?

Savage: I went to UC Davis and competed in Track and Field specializing in the
Javelin. I graduated with a degree in Communication and minor in Education. After
college, I moved back to Napa and got involved with Niebaum-Coppola Winery (now
Inglenook) and have been there ever since.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Justin-Siena High?

Savage: While Bob Morrish's honors English would be an easy choice, I would say
that I really enjoyed Mrs. Birkmyer’s Human Physiology class. I enjoyed learning
about our bodies in that class.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Justin-Siena High?

Savage: I've had a lot of favorites between basketball with Coach (Tom) Bonfigli
and our soccer team at Justin. I think the favorite moment was, in our senior year,
finally beating Dixon at home with our first night game under the lights. I recall our
team really playing well and our German exchange student scoring a diving header
from a crossing pass to put the game away 2-0. That game put us into playoffs for
the first time in a long time at Justin.  Beating Napa High in a preseason soccer
game that year was pretty nice too.

D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating
from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?

Savage: I feel like I understand how good preparation puts you in a position for
success.  Success isn't awarded, it is attained. I feel that within that mentality there
is the motivation for taking advantage of every chance you are given in life and to
enjoy the journey.

D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?

Savage: There are so many people in my family that have influenced me.  I would
not be the person that I am without the influence and experiences from my rather
close family.

If there needs to be one major influence, it would be my father, Tom Savage. He
instilled a love of sports, a understanding of what a commitment means, and how
to be a gentleman.  It would also be wise to mention that my father wouldn't have
been all of these things to me and others without the support of my mother, Michele.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would
most like to meet.

Savage: I'm going to place my faith in Larry Bird. I have always admired his
commitment to the sport and how he was as a competitor. I think we have a better
opportunity to learn from losses and I really admire how he demonstrated that within
the rivalries between the Lakers and the Celtics.  I think he showed that you don't
have to enjoy losing, but you better have respect for your opponents in their victory.

Narlock wore many hats, influenced many lives

There are times you meet someone in your life that influenced many generations in their
community. You wish you had met that person at a much earlier point in your life but
you feel privileged and honored to have known him or her.

For me, that person was Bill Narlock. The community of St. Helena, CA, lost an
incredible man as Narlock passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, March 11 at the
age of 80. Narlock and his family moved to San Francisco from his birthplace of North
Dakota in 1948. Narlock and his first wife, Patricia, moved to Chiles Valley in 1965 before
settling in St. Helena, where he and his family made their home since that time. After
Patricia passed away, he later married his second wife, Alice, in 2001. Narlock leaves behind
four kids of his own (Lori, Bill Jr., Bobby and Cathy), 11 grandchildren and many lives that
became better because of his influence. There will be a celebration of Narlock’s life on
March 25 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Native Sons Hall in St. Helena.

Narlock was a strongly principled man who wore many hats: contractor/carpenter,
gardener, mushroom forager, abalone diver, cook, wine/vinegar maker, bocce ball player
and San Francisco pro sports fan. Since he was a member of the Sons of Italy, he was Italian
by osmosis. I considered him an honorary Paisan. The role, however, that defined him was
as a volunteer, specifically coaching 38 years of St. Helena Little League. That span covered
his kids, grandkids and everyone in between. Anyone who gives that amount of time when it
comes to volunteerism is a special human being in my book.

I first met Narlock in the summer of 2004, shortly after I took over the Upper Napa Valley
sports beat. His wife, Alice, had worked at the newspaper so that gave me a chance to have
even more conversations with Bill. Even after Narlock retired from coaching after 2007, I
continued to see him frequently as his grandchildren (Sarah, Joey and Danny) had become
St. Helena High School student-athletes. If I did not have a game to cover, I could have
talked to him for hours on end.

Narlock and I were not friends in terms of doing things socially together but in our
frequently interactions and conversations, he felt like a friend and I considered him one.
The conversations ranged from sports to family to life. I frequently entertained him with
my impersonations of Al Davis, Avery Johnson, Archie Bunker and Keith Jackson to
name a few. Little does he know, I have added Elvis Presley to the equation.

I left the newspaper industry in December 2014, which is roughly the last time I saw Bill
since my current career takes me to Contra Costa County. However, I frequently think back
to the many conversations we had. You could name just about any kid that grew up in St.
Helena from the end of Lyndon B. Johnson’s time as United States president, he could tell
you their strengths or weaknesses and what type of kid he was.

One of the best stories I heard Narlock tell came when he was coaching a youngster that had
never played baseball. The kid bumped into a teammate in an attempt to catch a flyball. Bill
recalled telling the kid to “call for it.” The next flyball ball, said youngster waved his arms
in the air and yelled “come to me!” Narlock recalled laughing hysterically. He also recalled
watching a t-ball ball game and hearing a coach telling a kid “go home” in reference to home
plate. Instead, the kid started running to his house.

The most random compliment he ever paid me was, "Vince, I appreciate everything you do.
You've been a great writer and a great friend -- but you're never going to convince me to be a
Nebraska fan." He said that in reference to me being a University of Nebraska alum. I
quipped with, "Thank you, Bill. I appreciate that but what can I say, Nebraska football is my
sickness."

Narlock especially had an aversion to anyone that fixated on how hard a pitcher threw. I
shared his belief. Narlock’s comment was, “You can’t defend a walk or a hit batsman.” I
never heard such logic uttered that way but I proudly use that line. Another Narlock-ism
was, "an umpire never won or lost a game."

Narlock saw numerous changes in Little League including but not limited to going from
wooden to aluminum bats. I remember interviewing Narlock once and asked him an
opened ended question, “How did you get into coaching?” Narlock wanted to become a
teacher but “I never got there.” He may have never reached the classroom but Narlock’s
teaching was not limited to swinging bats and hammers, he knew how to teach the
fundamentals of life.

Another defining story of Narlock came in association with his twin grandsons, Joey and
Danny. Cathy Brink, who is Narlock’s daughter and the aforementioned twins mother, lost
her husband, Jeff Brink, who died in 2000. As a father of three kids myself, I could not
fathom going before my time and having my kids have me not be in their life. You think
of fatherhood involving playing catch with your son or daughter.

When it came to baseball, Narlock essentially wound up playing the role of father and
grandfather to Joey and Danny.  

In 2003, Joey and Danny moved up to the minors division (ages 9-10), who did not have
enough coaches at the time. Narlock subsequently pulled double duty for that season,
coaching the Wildcats (with ex-Viking and St. Helena High graduate John Bertoli
serving as an assistant coach) and the Red Sox.

Having lived to see his 80th birthday is a milestone that most people consider a full life.
Sure, as time goes on, we can put a positive spin on the life he led. Intellectually, we
know that no one who lives 80 years gets cheated. However, emotionally, Narlock’s
passing leaves a void.

The next time I am at my son’s Napa Little League baseball or my daughter’s Napa Junior
Girls Softball game, Narlock will be smiling from heaven. I’ll probably have an imaginary
conversation with him. Or I will ask, "What would Bill think?"

Bill, I have no doubt we will meet again someday in heaven but don’t take this the wrong
way, I hope that visit is delayed for a long time.

While I only knew Narlock for a fraction of his life, I am a better person for having known
him.