Goodbye and thank you, from a stranger

Tony Altobelli

Just before start of Andre Stewart’s memorial service Wednesday

afternoon, my editor asked if I wanted to come along to see the services.

I told him, “No,” because I was swamped with typing up recreation

listings for upcoming classes, camps and other summer activities.

Once I realized how truly stupid an excuse that was, I jumped in my car

and went to Davidson Field to see the services, not really knowing how I

was going to react.

Still being relatively new to the Daily Pilot, I was only able to

interview Andre one time and saw him play maybe four or five times.

My one interview came after the opening game of the season last year when

the Sailors devoured Orange, 55-6. He ran for 102 yards and scored three

touchdowns.

I was in my fourth month of reporting here and I was still a little

nervous when it came to interviewing players after a game. I think Andre

sensed that because when he shook my hand, he gave me that trademark

smile of his and gave me a little pat on the back as if to say, “Don’t

worry, man. It’s just me.”

I remember asking him what his goals were for himself and for the team.

Needless to say, his modesty was a tad lacking following the big win.

“I’d like to rush for 2,000 yards this season,” he said, still with that

smile on his face. “And I’d like to be first-team, All-Sea View League

and All-CIF.”

Oh is that all? Why not run for Mayor of Newport Beach?

Then the smile went away when I asked the team’s goal. He said looking

dead into my eyes, “We’re going to win CIF.”

For some reason, my stomach felt funny after hearing him say that. It was

the same feeling I used to get right before I would play baseball for

whoever I was playing with at the time.

Fast forward now to the CIF Division VI title game against Irvine.

Newport played the first half like the Sailors had never played football

before and trailed, 18-6, midway through the third quarter.

I was standing on the Newport side of the field and it almost felt like

the crowd and even some players had already written the game off. There

was no life, no smiles, nothing. Until....

Andre Stewart came running in with the life-support. Running behind a

mass of Sailor linemen, Stewart kick-started the offense, the crowd and

all of Newport Beach with a 42-yard run, the first positive thing to

happen for the Tars on that field since the opening run through the

banners at the start of the game.

The very next play, Stewart went untouched into the end zone to cut the

lead to, 18-12. Beep.....beep....beep....

All of a sudden there was mass hysteria on Newport’s side of the field.

Then, I remembered what Stewart told me 10 weeks prior and that feeling

came back into my stomach again.

Those plays brought Newport off the mat, enabling the Tars to win, 19-18

for the Division VI championship.

By the way, Stewart rushed for 2,404 yards, scored 26 touchdowns and was

CIF Division VI Offensive Player of the Year. He knew himself and his

teammates pretty well, huh?

Then came Monday when I read that he died. That same knotted feeling hit

my stomach, but obviously not for the same reasons.

I went to the service Wednesday to not only say “Goodbye,” but to also

say, “Thank you.”

Thanks for helping me get through my first post-game interview; thanks

for giving me one of the best sports moments of my life and thanks for

the smile. It went a long, long way, just like you.