Tuesday Time Machine: 2019-20 and beyond

COSTA MESA -- Summertime is upon us! Usually at this time of year, my brain is mashed potatoes and I'm counting down the seconds before I get to take a break from the grind and enjoy the decompression and prepare for the upcoming fall. This year ... all I want to do is work a sporting event -- ANY sporting event! Need a corn hole tournament announcer/statistician? I'm your guy!

Looking back on the 2019-20 sports memories, the obvious first thought is ... Void. The loss of spring sports at OCC was a feeling that is hard to explain, but yet, a feeling none of us ever want to experience again. With the loss of baseball head coach John Altobelli on Jan. 26, the school and its athletic department needed the diversion of sports to not only put smiles on all of our faces but to allow everyone in our Pirate family to work towards healing from such a terrible tragedy. In a weird way, the COVID pandemic offered a very legitimate distraction from the hurt as we all focused on the "now" instead of the "then". 

But as I dig a bit deeper into the memories of this past school year, there were FAR more positive memories than negative. With this being the final weekly column, I've put the Time Machine in park and I'm going to stay in the here and now because there are some events and people that need to be recognized. 

• I've received so many "atta boys" on the stories we've been able to provide during this sports-free portion of our calendar and for that I say "Thank You" ... not just for me but on behalf of everyone who contributed their time and effort into these projects. To one of the all-time greats -- Jim Carnett -- his Thursday Throwback features have been an incredible source of entertainment and from a guy who puts nouns and verbs together for a living, you're not going to find a better wordsmith than this OCC legend. I've told Jim in private and I'll tell him here ... the invitation for future stories -- anytime, about anything -- is forever on the table. The Pirate family loves you and your thoughts are always welcomed. Special thanks to Eric Montgomery, OCC's Sports Information Director prior to my arrival, for providing me a beautifully-written column on the 2002-03 women's basketball state championship.  
• A HUGE thank you to our former student-athletes who have taken the time to contribute to our "Forever Pirates" feature. To read, firsthand, on what this school has meant to so many people is truly a testament to not only this magical college, but also to its faculty, administrators, coaches and support staff who make this school run like the finely tuned machine that it really is. There are still a few "Forever Pirates" that will be launched throughout the summertime, but this is a project I'd like to see continue even when we are back to "normal" again. So, please send me your stories and your memories at aaltobelli@occ.cccd.edu. There are so many Pirate success stories out there ... let's hear about them!
• When our department was thrown the incredible curveball of shutting down the college, but yet, keeping classes and education moving forward, there were absolute superstars who pulled off this nearly impossible task on the fly. People in our department -- AD Jason Kehler, compliance superstar Ashley Rippeon, trainers Chaz Kekipi, Isabel Carpio and Mike Nakahara, PRESS leader Vince Rodriguez and equipment managers Chas Dutro and Tony Magana -- have all worked above and beyond the call of duties over the past few months and that work can not go unnoticed. In addition to the school shutting down and our sports stopping, we were also in the process of moving into a brand-new kinesiology/athletics complex and the work of everyone mentioned helped get all of these projects completed without all of us going nuts. THANK YOU to all of you for your hard work, dedication and unyielding love of this school and this athletics department. 
• Congrats to our student-athletes who have overcome this crazy time of our lives and not only pushed forward, but also finished their OCC careers with their A.A. degrees. It could've been so easy to just chuck this entire semester and get back to things again in the fall, but most of you didn't do that. Most of you figured out what needed to be done and you GOT it done. On behalf of all of us at OCC ... JOB WELL DONE. We are all so proud of what you all had to overcome and deal with during this crisis and we wish you nothing but the best in your future. 
• While it wasn't necessarily the greatest overall school year in terms of wins and losses, when it comes to the character and quality of our student-athletes on campus this year, the 2019-20 school year was a tremendous success. Each athlete has his or her own goals and dreams, whether it's trying to attend Stanford University, or simply to overcome incredible hardship and garner leadership and life-altering tools for the future.  Each story is remarkable ... each story is commendable ... and you ALL should be proud of reaching your goals. I've heard several times that "you get out of Orange Coast College what you put into it" and looking at the various success stories throughout our sports department, it's obvious you put a LOT into this school and for that we say thank you!
• On a personal note, I want to thank each and every one of you out there who have been by my side and offering me so much love and support over these past several months. From the athletes coming up and giving me random hugs to teams dedicating victories to me and involving me into their season as one of their own. From my Pirate Family just being there for me and checking in on me to the countless barrage of emails offering love and support ... I can't say "thank you" and "I love you" enough. While there have been several moments over this past school year I'd like to forget, I also want to forever remember just how special everyone at this school is. 
• OK everyone, please be safe and stay healthy this summer so we can continue to work our way back to the athletic playing fields in the fall. We all could use some sports in our lives to put some smiles on our faces. 

GO PIRATES!!