Top 10 Sports Stories of 2007

With another exciting year of sports on the horizon, it’s time to look back at the games, events and athletes that made headlines over the last 12 months in Pacific Palisades. Counting down the Top 10 stories in 2007… 10. Howell III Triumphs at Nissan Open One of golf’s most prestigious tournaments produced one of the most unlikeliest comebacks in recent memory. Charles Howell III trailed Phil Mickelson by four shots heading to the back nine on the final day of the Nissan Open in February and the issue seemed all but decided at the hallowed grounds off Capri Drive. Yet Howell birdied the last three holes to pull even, then won the longest playoff at Riviera Country Club in 25 years by sinking a three-foot par putt on the third extra hole to the delight of a packed crowd at the 14th green. It was Howell’s first PGA Tour win in 127 tries. Beginning this year, the event will have a new title sponsor and has been renamed the Northern Trust Open. 9. Will Rogers Race Reaches Milestone One of the community’s most popular traditions is showing no signs of slowing down. Thanks to the tireless efforts of race organizers Brian Shea and Bill Klein and countless volunteers, the 30th annual Palisades-Will Rogers Race on the morning of July 4 was one to remember. Who better to fire the starting gun than 10-time Olympic track-and-field medalist Carl Lewis, who warned the 2,363 runners packed like sardines at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center not to go out too fast given the sweltering heat. Fittingly, lifelong Palisadian David Greifinger won the 50-54 division of the 10K. He was 22 years old when he became the first local runner to win the race in 1979. 8. Howland’s Hoops Camp Back at PaliHi Like his team, which made it back to the Final Four, UCLA men’s coach Ben Howland returned to town for his second annual summer basketball camp at the Palisades High gymnasium. Once again, it was the thrill of a lifetime for local youth, who had an opportunity to meet and learn from one of the best college coaches in the country. The five-day camp for boys and girls ages 6-14 emphasized fundamental skills like rebounding, dribbling, passing and shooting. Several UCLA players showed up throughout the week to give demonstrations and sign autographs for their young admirers. Assisting Howland’s staff were PaliHi coaches James Paleno, Mike Sutton and Torino Johnson. 7. Riviera Hosts Marquee Tennis Events The Palisades’ most historic sports facility was home to not one, not two, but three major tennis events–from Open to college to professional levels. In August, Riviera hosted the inaugural USTA Husband & Wife Hardcourt National Championships in which several local couples competed. October brought the annual Women’s All-American Tennis Championships. Suzi Babos of UC Berkeley won the singles title for the second straight year. In December, Riviera hosted the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Classic, a fundraiser organized by Luke and Murphy Jensen, the great doubles team. It included Grand Slam champs Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati, actors David Duchovny and Eric Braeden, and comedian Jon Lovitz. 6. Yankees Claim Two Divisions in PPBA Another exciting season at the Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams concluded with the Yankees organization coming out on top in both the Mustang and Pinto Divisions of the PPBA playoffs in June. In the Mustang Division (ages 9 & 10), Rick McGeagh’s Yanks topped the National League champion Cardinals, 9-3, and in the Pinto Division (ages 7-9) it was Bill Holbrow’s Yanks beating the Dodgers, 7-6, in extra innings in the deciding game. Rob Lamb’s Orioles beat the Tigers, 11-1, to complete a dominating season in the Bronco (11-12) Division while in the Pony Division (13-14) Bob Lutz’s Pali Blue edged the West L.A. Yankees, 5-4, in the third and deciding game. 5. Seyler Out as PaliHi Baseball Coach Perhaps no story on or off the field drew as much attention as the decision by Palisades High administrators to fire baseball coach Tom Seyler after his Dolphins pitchers hit seven batters in a playoff loss to Chatsworth. Seyler said he told his pitchers to throw inside to jam the batters, not hit them intentionally. The decision to fire Seyler followed an internal investigation during which coaches and players were interviewed. Seyler initially said he would protest the ruling but decided to resign before his appeal meeting and accepted responsibility for the incident. City officials did not issue further sanctions and Seyler remains the school’s magnet coordinator. 4. PaliHi Squads Win City Championships Four varsity girls teams at Palisades High brought home section titles, starting with Kim Smith’s soccer squad, which was the City Invitational winner, edging University, 2-1, in the finals at East L.A. College in March. Kelly Mickel made the winning penalty kick moments before the final whistle. Repeating as City champion in May was the swim team coached by Maggie Nance. Winning as much on sheer numbers as sparkling times, the Dolphins racked up 302 points on the way to a 17th section title at John Argue Stadium in L.A. In November, Bud Kling’s tennis team made it three in a row and 20 total with a 5-2 victory over Taft in the City finals in Encino. The next day, Chris Forrest’s volleyball team won its 24th City title at Occidental College. 3. Parker Named an All-Time Gold Glover Who knew Wes Parker would make his greatest catch 35 years after he left the major leagues? In August, the former Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman was voted by fans to the all-time Rawlings Gold Glove team as one of baseball’s nine best fielders of the last half-century. The 35-year Palisades resident got 53 percent of the votes at his position, finishing ahead of Don Mattingly, Keith Hernandez, Vic Power, J.T. Snow and Bill White. Another retired local athlete, boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, received the L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission’s annual Ambassador Award of Excellence at the Riviera Country Club in May. 2. Blanck’s Studio Celebrates 25th Year Few teachers have positively influenced the lives of more kids in Pacific Palisades over the past three decades than martial arts instructor Gerry Blanck. A sixth-degree blackbelt in Yoshukai Karate, Blanck opened his dojo, on Alma Real in 1983 not knowing what to expect. Since then, he has trained hundreds of students in a variety of self-defense disciplines, and he has enjoyed every minute. In July, Blanck celebrated his silver anniversary in style–by hosting a karate seminar at his studio, which was named Blackbelt Magazine’s “School of the Month” in 1992. Visitors were treated to live demonstrations with lots of kicks and sticks, followed by dinner and dancing at Pearl Dragon. 1. PaliHi’s Stadium by the Sea Reopens The future of athletics in Pacific Palisades changed forever on the evening of November 2 with the opening of Palisades High’s newly-renovated running track and playing field at the Stadium by the Sea prior to the Dolphins’ homecoming football game against Venice. Palisades resident Bob Jeffers and Brentwood’s Jim Bailey, who both attended the opening, spearheaded the project. Palisadian and “Olympian of the Century” Carl Lewis jogged the ceremonial first lap around the still-unfinished track named in his honor. Included in the $1.6-million makeover is synthetic turf to replace the natural grass field. In addition to PaliHi sports, the field will be the home venue for the new Pali Blues pro soccer women’s team.