Thoughts and Opinions from the Community
Cerro Coso's athletic tapestry should not be allowed to unravel
By Tim Allen
The fabric of life is one that is woven uniquely in each community.
In some, it is the diversity of its cultures.
In others, it's the variety of its recreation.
Though some may argue for desert vistas and military might, the Indian
Wells Valley has always been a wellspring of athletic talent and
competition for its inhabitants.
It is understandable that Cerro Coso Community College's new president
may not fully understand the importance of an athletic program to those
of us who were born and bred in this land.
With that in mind, I'd like to try and educate her and others who would
begin the dismantling of the Coyote athletic program on why this is a
poor choice.
Cerro Coso's athletic value in Ridgecrest is unquestionable. It takes
nothing more than a look at two of its most successful programs -
baseball and basketball - to prove this out.
The baseball program, run by 11th-year head coach Dick Adams, is a
perfect example of how a community college athletic program can, and
should, function in its primary market. He came to Ridgecrest from Reno,
Nevada and immediately began working on the athletic fabric of the
community.
Adams organized his program that first season, and then started a
baseball camp at the college for local youth players. He helped instruct
coaches and start travel teams and had special nights for the players at
his collegiate games.
What has been the result of those investments? Take a hard look at this
year's roster. Six locals could inhabit the starting lineup this season,
led by preseason All-American Jon Foisy. These players represented
Ridgecrest across the nation on the junior Dawgs AAU travel team, and
still others brought Burroughs its first-ever trip into the CIF
postseason after 50 years of ineptitude. Foisy and his pals took the
Burros to the CIF finals, something never before dreamed of.
Then look at Larry Bird and the men's basketball program. The head coach
of this team is like a comfortable old quilt from your grandmother - a
durable piece of your home that you would never want to do without.
Bird has been investing his time and resources into the valley for more
than 30 years. After a very successful career at Burroughs, he moved his
nest to Cerro Coso and has continued to draw quality young men to the
area to play a game this valley loves.
Bird too has run a very successful summer camp over the years, helping
scores of area youth develop their skills in the game of basketball.
Likewise, coaches in volleyball, softball and women's basketball have
made similar contributions to the miraculous pattern of life woven into
the Indian Wells Valley. Unfortunately, space prevents me from
mentioning each in deserving detail.
Coyote athletics accomplish several important things for the valley.
Among these, giving local athletes a place to learn and play before
making the leap to a four-year institution.
For the college itself, they bring a diversified group of paying
students to the area that enrich the college atmosphere and provide
additional funding that other on-campus programs do not.
Like any quilt, if you take but one piece out of the pattern, you
irreparably mar the entire appearance. You can replace or repair it, but
it is never quite the same.
While we may not readily see it, we've all benefited from the athletic
program at Cerro Coso Community College at one time or another.
Losing it, or any portion thereof, would take away from the heritage of
our valley, and the high desert has had enough of that already.
Tim Allen is a native of Ridgecrest and was sports editor of The Daily
Independent from 1993-1998. He is a 1982 graduate of Burroughs High
School and an alumnus and former ASB President of Cerro Coso Community
College.
March 7, 2003
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The Daily Independent.
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