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Bill Webb

That’s probably when I met the late Bill Webb. I recruited his son to play hoops. Bill and I became fast friends.

Me, Oberjuerge and Warren Zevon

By John Murphy This week I reported that Gary Libby has resigned as baseball coach at Chino High. He will seek a job in the High Desert where he has lived for 31 years. I hadn’t spoken to Libby since he coached at Pacific back when I was at the San Bernardino Sun (2000 toContinue reading “Me, Oberjuerge and Warren Zevon”

Burlingame Rec

That’s Mike Ciardella (center) with one of his state championship Sacred Heart Prep girls basketball teams. But I knew him when he was just known as “Chubby.” By John Murphy Faithful readers of this blog may recall that I majored in Recreation and not Journalism. It was a curious decision on my part, but IContinue reading “Burlingame Rec”

Bill Larsen

The world is full of impostors who call themselves “coach.” If you’re lucky you’ll play for someone who deserves the title.

Harvey Cohen: A closer look

Every day was Casual Friday for Harvey Cohen, rocking a Hawaiian shirt here. By John Murphy Twenty-four years ago I moved to San Bernardino and bought a house near 40th Avenue. A few blocks away, on Sierra Avenue, was a row of businesses that included a tamale shop, a tattoo parlor, a barbershop and HarveyContinue reading “Harvey Cohen: A closer look”

Papa Jess

As the little brother of a Serra High player, I saw and heard a lot from that golden era. Here are five memorable games from 1967 through ’69 when Freitas led Serra to victory:

Glory days

had an interview for a sports reporter job at the Santa Cruz Sentinel at like 8 a.m. Two hours later I was due in Watsonville to try for its sports editor job.

East Fern Ave.

East Fern is the high-rent district. There are no abandoned couches on this street and not even indoor furniture on porches — always a tacky look. American flags adorn many of the vintage houses. Yards are clean and well-manicured.

Warren ‘Scoop’ Wynkoop

By John Murphy My seventh-grade basketball coach, Hank McLaughlin, used to say Thursday was his favorite day … because he’d get home from school, grab some chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk and read the San Bruno Herald. He wasn’t alone. The shining star of the weekly San Bruno Herald as far asContinue reading “Warren ‘Scoop’ Wynkoop”

Aptos’ day in the sun

The story had a joyous ending, too, as Aptos won the Western Regionals in dramatic fashion. Trailing 3-1 in the fifth inning (Little League games are six innings), Aptos rallied dramatically to earn the victory on a three-run home run by a 6-foot 12-year-old named Tyler Raymond.