Sailors to catch sight of world

ROGER CARLSON

There used to be a recruiting slogan from the U.S. Navy -- “Join the

Navy and see the world.” Now, it’s “experience the world.”

I don’t think that’s what spurred Newport Harbor High basketball

coach Larry Hirst to annually take his Sailors out and about during

the winter break before New Year’s Day, but if the Navy wanted a

different poster for its recruiting program, it might be well advised

to take a look at these Sailors and their memorable trips.

You can read all the books in the library, but there’s nothing

quite like getting out there and hoofing it with the Romans.

The ninth-year Newport Harbor coach has his current class of

varsity players all set for a tournament in the Alaskan city of

Juneau, the eighth adventure over the past eight years.

It began with Newport, R.I., followed by trips to Carson City, Las

Vegas, Carson City again, Seattle, another Alaskan city, Anchorage,

and Minneapolis-St. Cloud, Minn. last year. The 2004 trip is already

set in stone with a return to Anchorage.

It usually takes some 10 months or so to find the right spot and

timing, but the 2004 trip will be an unusual follow-up.

“Lots of times it’s a matter of contacts and where we can fit in,”

said Hirst.

The cost is anywhere from $12,000 to $18,000 with the major

portion of expenses taken by airfare and hotel accommodations.

Regardless of outlay, Hirst is well aware it can’t be done without

“good kids and great support, as well as the coaches on the lower

levels,” although when it comes to the costs, only the varsity

players, coaches and parents are involved.

This year’s tournament (Dec. 26-31) will include a party of 26 and

a great deal of it is paid through program advertisers. The key among

many strong supporters to the drive is held by Kathleen Perrine,

whose son, Greg, was on the Anchorage trip in 2001.

Another Perrine, Brett, is in the mix this year, and next.

“It’s unbelievable for a high school program and the community

which has responded,” said Hirst, whose own playing and coaching

history is dotted with many excursions.

The experiences of travel are priceless, but of course as any

parent will tell you, sometimes you are tested. Like, on a personal

note, when I finally made it to the top of a white-knuckled trek to

the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado and my son, sleeping in the back

seat, finally managed to wake up and look around for a moment or two,

and then ask, “When do we eat?”

Sometimes Hirst’s Sailors fit this category, especially when they

are herded up at 7 a.m. to begin a full day’s schedule of checking

out the area before practice and competition.

One of the more interesting slants Hirst has seen has been the

emergence of some teenagers, who at times may have their own parents

wondering if they’ll ever get out of the goofy stage.

It’s amazing how many, and specifically, who, will surprise

everyone with a consistent display of dignity and class when on the

road, to the utter delight of their parents and coaches. But it’s a

common trait the Sailors, virtually all of them, have displayed.

I think a great deal of that is the response which comes from the

forthcoming hospitality, and perhaps, from preparation.

Hirst comes from a background of Edison High and (now) Vanguard

University with coaches such as Bill Reynolds, Jon Borchert, Paul

Harrell and Dave Mohs in the mix, and uppermost in the memory banks

are the various trips that ensued.

One of Hirst’s favorite moments was when with a group of NAIA

All-Stars as a collegian in 1984.

“We were in Hong Kong and (mainland) China,” he said.

Among the things that have stayed with him: Walking in the market

area where they had (things) half dead so you would be sure it would

be fresh when you ate it, a train ride to Canton (where the sights

and sounds will truly wake up any traveler) and just the general

climate of the daily course of living with gun-fingering troops so

prominent, are all so eye-opening.

Winning, of course, is enough to keep you happy with an away game

in downtown Boron, but the camaraderie and experience of the outside

world is special, especially with added attractions.

Hirst relates to the overwhelming good will that seems to come as

soon as you get beyond “Highway 91,” alluding to the hospitality

which athletes always seem to find outside the state of California.

“When we played for third place in Newport, R.I., we had more

people behind us (than the opposition),” recalled Hirst. His Sailors

had upset the hosts in the first round and the eventual third-place

game went into double overtime.

The trip to Las Vegas was a one-time venture when he wanted to see

how well his team could stand up in a very, high-powered tournament

(Newport won three of five games).

But for the most part the thought is to “go someplace where it’s

cold.”

The thought is for his players to see another side of the mountain

and it’s an idea with merit. “It’s the trips, and some games, that

you remember,” said Hirst, whose playing days were at Edison High

under Mohs, and Vanguard University under one of the more influential

coaches anywhere, Reynolds. What a back-to-back experience. Mohs,

then Reynolds. Small wonder he eventually coached under Reynolds and

Borchert (at Edison) before accepting the post at Harbor.

It’s a full-time schedule and for the first time in his nine-year

tour at Newport, Hirst is planning on turning over the coaching reins

in the summer next year to assistant Brian Cottriel, while he takes

some time to spend with wife, Sheridan, 11-year-old son, Tanner, and

8-year-old daughter, Whitney.

Despite all the traveling he and his teams have accomplished,

Hirst has had but just one brief venture in Yosemite, and has some

thoughts of a deeper visit, as well as some of the things all too

often caught in the crease, such as “taking the kids to swim

classes.”

He allows, however, he’ll probably return to duty for the running

of his annual George Yardley summer tournament. With his ninth year

at the Sailors’ helm, only the legendary Ralph Reid and the very

successful Jerry DeBusk rank ahead of Hirst in the long gray line of

Newport basketball coaches.

And one can only wonder where ensuing ventures will take Hirst and

his Sailors. Who knows? Maybe in three or four years they’ll be in

Springfield, Mass., considering Kyle Caldwell, the grandson of

Naismith Hall of Famer George Yardley, is presently attending Ensign

Intermediate.

Hey! See you next Sunday!

* ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot.

His column appears on Sundays. He can be reached by e-mail at

[email protected]