Time Experience Thoughts

Citrus College Owls (Mission Conference Champions 1972)

Some of us played football. Famously Roosevelt talked about being “in the arena” of life. In football whether we experienced winning, losing, or even championship seasons, most of us consider that we have “spent ourselves” in a worthy effort. Win or lose, we know “in the end the triumph of high achievement,” or, if we fail, “at least” we fail “while daring greatly.”* Ran across the following football parable a few years ago: Imagine that you are attending a football game. The teams seem evenly matched. One team has been trained to follow the rules ; the other, to do just the opposite . They are committed to cheat and disobey every rule of sportsmanlike conduct. While the game ends in a tie, it is determined that it must continue until one side wins decisively . Soon the field is a quagmire . Players on both sides are being ground into the mud . The cheating of the opposing team turns to brutality . Players are carried off the field . Some have been injured critical...

Rick Telander on Football’s Lessons for Life: Discipline, Listening, Fun, Testing, Pain and Loss “Emily Dickinson is a poet I admire.  She wrote about bees, and clouds, and daisies, and within her quiet realm she unlocked the universe. ‘For each ecstatic instant we must in anguish pay, in keen and quivering ratio to the ecstasy.’ “I think of all the things football has taught me. The obvious things, discipline, the importance of listening to instructions. Yeah, I limp because of football. But if it weren’t for football I would limp because life makes everybody limp. And there were other lessons too. “Colliding with things is just a whole damn lot of fun. Testing yourself is necessary. Pain does not have to be evil. Football ends. Like everything you care about. The clock runs out. And you will lose. Imagine. Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, two of the greatest in history, never played in a post-season game. And so you have to accept losing. Or, rather you don’t. You process an...

Funeral Service for Terrance Richard Tenove Prelude Music, "Amazing Grace" Welcome and Eulogy, by Scott Vanatter Music, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" Remarks and Eulogy, by Abe Ohanian Music, "Trees" Prayer, by David Peale Graveside Graveside Remarks, by Abe Ohanian Prayer, by Mr. Douglass [Welcome and Eulogy by Scott Vanatter] Welcome. We are gathered together to pay tribute to Terry; to extend our love and sympathy to his family, Mr. and Mrs. Tenove, his brothers Glen, Michael, Brian, and other relatives (including his grandmother, Dovie Belle Wales); and to comfort one another. We've each had our own quiet reflective times alone in the past couple of days. We may need more, but for now, we meet together to find strength in our unity and fellowship. Your presence and kindness is appreciated by Terry's family. ~ We all acknowledge that this is a difficult thing to understand. It takes time and patience to sort ...

EULOGY GIVEN BY ABE OHANIAN FOR TERRY TENOVE How did Terry touch your life? What did Terry mean to you? Join me in this reflection on the life of Terry Tenove. On March 2, 1967 this article appeared in the local newspaper. "Before a highly partisan crowd, Duarte's Hawks captured the B Division Championship in the first Regional Golden State Tournament edging the Pico-Rivera All-Stars in overtime, 30-28, on Terry Tenove's two free throws with three seconds to play." Terry went on to win the Most-Valuable Player Award that evening. Terry played his heart out that day, but then he always did. He lived his life the same way realizing his maximum possibilities and developing himself to his fullest capacity. He was an achiever. He was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, where he won the Order of the Arrow. He found a great means of expression through sports. He played baseball from the 2nd grade on thru Cal Poly and semi-pro ball. From Babe Ruth to Connie Mack League...

That's me, the tight end on the left side of the picture, number 87 for the Citrus Junior College Owls. We were Mission Conference Champions that year, the Fall of 1972. (Gina used Photoshop to 'warm up' the pic.)

After playing football at Citrus JC (1972 season) and before my mission to Australia (1973-75), I coached the sophomore football team at my alma mater, Duarte High School (1973 season). Head Coach Whalen is on the right; I am on the left -- Assistant Coach, and Offensive and Defensive Line Coach.

It was a beautiful, crisp morning. Perfect for football. (Taken from our front yard.)

FOOTBALL. Love it! Even though I only watch a handful of games. (Hardly any from beginning to end. Good to know it is there if I want it.) I won bragging rights last year -- if not a little respect from the small group I competed against in ESPN's Pigskin Pick 'Em game -- by picking the most winners for the entire year. We shall see what this year brings. (Though I am hoping against hope that the Raiders will not embarrass themselves yet again. Blast.)

Tight end #87 for Citrus College, the 1972 Mission Conference Co-Champions. We had, what turned out to be, one of the junior college All-American running backs that year on our team. Kenny Williams. We/he set team and individual season and game rushing records that stood for over 30 years. Kenny set the junior college record (1,850 yards) during the same season that OJ set the pro record (over 2,000 yards). We had a much shorter season than the pros. (1972)