The ‘Dickerson-Green Show’ lights up 48th OAA dinner
The 48th annual Outstanding Athlete Awards Banquet quickly transitioned into the Eric and Roy Show.
As in Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson and two-time Pro Bowl receiver Roy Green, Wednesday night’s special guests.
“(Man), you were good,” Green gushed.
“Back then, I had hair,” Dickerson cracked.
The former NFL stars, rivals during the 1980s, have become friends. It showed during their rollicking two-man exchange that entertained a crowd approaching 500 at the Sportsmen of Stanislaus Club.
“I was assigned to block (Hall of Fame linebacker) Lawrence Taylor on a few plays,” Dickerson recalled. “So we played the (NewYork) Giants on my 22nd birthday. He’s All-Pro and I’m 22. I cut (blocked) him good. Linebackers hate being cut. He said, ‘Hey, (expletive)! Don’t cut me!’”
“I said, ‘Yes, sir,’” Dickerson said. “I didn’t even go back to the huddle. I went straight to the sideline. That man was crazy.”
Dickerson and Green, who fit in a pre-banquet round of golf at Del Rio Country Club, filled the room with football anecdotes and life lessons. Dickerson, best remembered for his 13,000 career yards and his 2,105 yards in 1984 that still stand as the NFL single-season record, also made news by predicting his old team – the Los Angeles Rams – will move from St. Louis to Los Angeles along with the Oakland Raiders (he played for the Raiders late in his career.)
“I think the Raiders should stay here (in Oakland),” Dickerson said, “but I think there will be two teams in Los Angeles.”
Later, Courtney Anderson-Heiner, Vince Wheeland, Lindsey Vander Weide and Israel Saavedra took home the OAA’s major awards. The OAA recognized Stanislaus County’s top athletes of 2014.
Anderson-Heiner, the Cal State Stanislaus graduate who won the NCAA Division II title in the 1,500 meters, was chosen in the women’s open division over finalists Gabby Maurice and Cara McClain.
Wheeland, the Turlock High graduate who’s been called one of the top 10 pitchers in Oklahoma State history, was given the nod by OAA committee members over Matt Galas and Anthony Cota. Wheeland attended because his second professional season in the Houston Astros’ minor-league chain was doomed by a serious shoulder injury in spring training.
Saavedra, the Modesto High junior and two-time state wrestling champion, captured the high school boys’ honor. Other finalists were Turlock graduate and Cal freshman catcher Brett Cumberland, Tyler Janitz of Gregori, Nate Phillips of Modesto and Justin Rice of Central Catholic.
Vander Weide, the Oregon-bound star of the Pitman volleyball team that swept to the state Division I finals, edged girls prep finalists Hannah Chappell of Oakdale, Danielle Friedrich of Central Catholic, Pitman teammate Maddy Halteman and Oakdale’s Shelby Stender.
Also honored as teams of the year were Central Catholic’s third straight state football champions, and Modesto Christian’s first state champion girls basketball team. Coaches Roger Canepa of CC and Robb Spencer of MC accepted the awards.
Here’s the rest of the awards list, and all honorees were present:
Hall of Fame – To longtime high school swimming and water polo coach Brent Bohlender, the prolific winner who’s already been inducted to the U.S. Water Polo and Sac-Joaquin Section halls of Fame; and former Beyer water polo star Doug Burke, who went on to win NCAA titles at Stanford and eventually earned a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics.
Darell Phillips – To Oakdale High icon Norm Antinetti, who’s spent 54 years as a coach, an athletic director and – today – still the commissioner of the Valley Oak League.
Jay Pattee – To Abe Rojas, the tireless Turlock volunteer, for the award that identifies public service to the sports community. Rojas, who’s announced football games for Turlock and later Pitman for more than 40 years, is involved with many outreach organizations. He’s also served on the Yosemite Community College District Board and the Salvation Army Advisory Board. Rojas pushed for the creation of the Pedretti Sports Complex, where a ballpark there bears his name. His family lured him to the SOS, as the Jay Pattee winner is not announced until banquet night.
Tom Mellis Scholarship – The $2,500 grant to Janitz, the Gregori senior and one of the high school finalists. Janitz and the Jaguars were competing in the second round of the baseball Section D-I South Playoffs.
Ron Agostini: (209) 578-2302, ragostini@modbee.com, @ModBeeSports
OAA WINNERS Hall of Fame 2014 -- Doug Burke, Brent Bohlender. 2013 -- Dan Gonsalves, Suzy Powell. 2012 -- John Azevedo. 2011 -- Dick Davey. 2010 -- Doug Streeter. 2009 -- Ray Lankford. 2008 -- Tisha Venturini. 2007 -- Dave Ashleigh. 2006 -- Bill Heaston. 2005 -- Proverb Jacobs, Visco Grgich. 2004 -- Alex Olmedo. 2003 -- Bruce Coslet, Ed Maurice. 2002 -- Jim Hanny. 2001 -- Paul Wiggin. 2000 -- Paul "Red" Ellman. 1999 -- Dean Sensenbaugh. 1998 -- Chuck Hughes, Susan Taylor. 1997 -- Karl Finch. 1996 -- John Rade. 1995 -- Will Werle. 1994 -- Jeff Winans. 1993 -- Gino Marchetti. 1992 -- Bill Heath. 1991 -- Paul Larson. 1990 -- Jim McDonald. 1989 -- Claude Terry. 1988 -- Kenny Roberts. 1987 -- Joe Rudi. 1986 -- Tom Moore. 1985 -- Harvey Hand. 1984 -- Wilbur "Moose" Thompson. 1983 -- Emerson "Bud" Spencer. 1982 -- John Podesto. 1981 -- Dave Maggard. 1980 -- Eddie LeBaron. 1979 -- Cy Young. Open Division 2014 -- Vince Wheeland, Courtney Anderson-Heiner. 2013 -- Isaiah Burse, Amanda Pridmore. 2012 -- Reggie Jones, Karenee Demery. 2011 -- Adrian Oliver, Karlee Bispo. 2010 -- Colin Kaepernick, Maria Sanchez. 2009 -- German Fernandez, Marissa Drewery. 2008 -- Tommy Mendonca, Erin Cafaro. 2007 -- Tom Brandstater, Ashley Walker. 2006 -- Byron Storer and Bryan Haile, Vanessa Stanfield. 2005 -- Ryan Thornberry and Jeff Burda, Breanna Vaughan. 2004 -- Chuck Hayes, Chaunte Mitchell. 2003 -- Lucais MacKay, Alison Cox. 2002 -- Wade Wheatley, Diljeet Mendoza. 2001 -- Matt Bettencourt, Shannon Donnelly. 2000 -- Mike Thiessen, Barbara Miller. 1999 -- Kenny Roberts Jr., Katy Joslin. 1998 -- E.J. Jackson. 1997 -- Dan Reichert. 1996 -- Suzy Powell. 1995 -- Mark Garcia. 1994 -- Carrie Neugebauer. 1993 -- Jimmy Filice. 1992 -- Raymond Lankford. 1991 -- Tisha Venturini. 1990 -- John Kocinski. 1989 -- Kirsten Dumford. 1988 -- Greg Wakefield. 1987 -- Andre Weiglein. 1986 -- Dana Arnold. 1985 -- Yolande Mavity. 1984 -- Doug Burke. 1983 -- Dot Jones. 1982 -- Jeff Blobaum. 1981 -- Tyke Peacock. 1980 -- John Rade. 1979 -- John Azevedo. 1978 -- Bill Hurst. 1977 -- Rusty Kuntz. 1976 -- Laura Siering. 1975 -- Leo Camarillo. 1974 -- Frank Duffy. 1973 -- Kenny Roberts. 1972 -- Ace Berry. 1971 -- Claude Terry. 1970 -- Joe Rudi. 1969 -- Jack McCoy. 1968 -- Dave Maggard. 1967 -- Ron Whitney. High School Division 2014 -- Israel Saavedra, Lindsey Vander Weide. 2013 --Ja’Quan Gardner, Lexi Tubbs. 2012--Ray Lomas, Gabrielle Maurice. 2011 --Billy Flamion, Faith Makau. 2010 -- Kevin Kramer, Shawnee Martinez. 2009 -- Isaiah Burse, Brandy Henton. 2008 -- Rudi Burtschi, Julianna Santos. 2007 -- German Fernandez, Karlee Bispo. 2006 -- Louis Bland, Marina Martinez. 2005 -- Billy Murphy, Maria Sanchez. 2004 -- Mike Hurst, Ashley Walker. 2003 -- Deshon Brown, Julianna Uhrik. 2002 -- Justin Moye, Omaira Estremera. 2001 -- Brianne Ferguson, Byron Storer. 2000 -- Chuck Hayes, Reshundra Smiley. 1999 -- Luke Bell, Shannon Donnelly. 1998 -- Justin Willingham, Wendy Watkins. 1997 -- Ryan Carter, Christine Zador. 1996 -- Tony Lomelli, Vanessa Morris. 1995 -- Josh Ichord, Kari Abbey. 1994 -- Oscar Castaneda, Holly Yost. 1993 -- T.J. Walker, Sara Norwood. 1992 -- Ryan Green, Jill Endicott. 1991 -- Kyle Porter, Suzy Powell. 1990 -- Tisha Venturini, Steve Soderstrom. 1989 -- John Belew. 1988 -- Dana Arnold. 1987 -- Christy Pohl. 1986 -- Kelly McMurray. 1985 -- Tim Baker. 1984 -- Raymond Lankford. 1983 -- Brad Brink. 1982 -- Dennis Wend. 1981 -- Lynn Henderson. 1980 -- Kirk Barry. 1979 -- Carrie McLaughlin. 1978 -- Larry Kasinger. 1977 -- Rick Arnold. 1976 -- Tim Holmes. 1975 -- John Azevedo. 1974 -- Doug Streeter. 1973 -- Arlen Peters. 1972 -- Joe Zimmerman. 1971 -- Lynn Zwahlen. 1970 -- Asvaldo Bertolotti. 1969 -- Max Goldstein. 1968 -- Rick Jones. 1967 -- Balvino Irizarry. Jay Pattee Award Abe Rojas, Ray Baltz, Bill Moorad, Frank Hart, Carl Rice, Jeff Hickman, Bob Nard, Will Keener, Jerry Streeter, Bob Stuhlman, Tony Lema, Jerry Freitas, Mike Glines, Paul Cooper, Ismail Ontiveros, Dave Gomes, Lee Hampson, John Bava, Glen Streeter, Bobby Cole, Jack Koski, Dick Peterson, Bill Silva, Chuck Hughes, Robert Carson, Larry Inderbitzen, Rev. Michael Kelly, Al Brenda, Frank Godinez, William "Bill" Stivers, Ralph "Lefty" York, George Costa, Frank Russo, Ezio "Atch" Pedretti, Ralph Johnson, Frank Salas, Joe Meyers, Leon Lafaille, Tom Mellis, Dick Windemuth, Gil Prouty, Herb Staggs, Ed Jalli, Jim Riddle, Tom Moore, George Maroney, Fred Earle Jr., Stan Pavko. Darell Phillips Award Norm Antinetti, Kim Duyst, Bob Thomason, Marty Boer, Glen Davis, Wayne McGhee, Sam Young, LeAnn Millar, Frank Cusenza, Jim Bowen, Don Lanphear, Jack Albiani, Paul Cornwell, Dan Gonsalves, Art McRae, Brent Bohlender, Steve Da Prato, Marc Malone. |
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This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM with the headline "The ‘Dickerson-Green Show’ lights up 48th OAA dinner."