verdugo288

I answered the phone. Sometime during the week after we swept Glendale and beat Sun Valley the first time. And this was the days before caller ID.

It was Mel.

And that’s exactly what he said at the beginning of the phone call. He said it in his New York, Mafia-style, pseudo tough-guy, rat-like voice.

“What about this kid Moreno?”

“What about him? I asked?”

“Well….everybody’s looking into this. You sure he lives in La Crescenta?”

“Who’s everybody Mel”

“Well….ME….I’m looking into it”

“Maybe you should have looked into that last year Mel….this is his SECOND year with us in case you didn’t already know”

“You didn’t include his school’s enrollment on your Form-1”

“I don’t have to include his enrollment Mel…I didn’t recruit any new players this year from Maranatha”

And that is the rule…by the way.

“Maranatha’s not an adjacent school to Crescenta Valley!”

“It doesn’t have to be….at least according to your rule book…and furthermore…there are three other kids from Maranatha who live in La Crescenta and played on the baseball team at Maranatha High who I opted to not put on my roster to protect Moreno’s eligibility!”

Checkmate.

The rule book was vague. But also clear. They did have a rule in their rule book that said he could play for us.

What they didn’t have in the rule book was a rule saying he couldn’t play for us.

This wasn’t an issue regarding Ivan’s age.

The enrollment numbers at Maranatha were small…but would have put us over the limit….making our team….and our season…”illegal as hell”

The rule….however….stated that I didn’t have to include Maranatha’s enrollment if I didn’t recruit any new players from Maranatha High. The rule book made no differentiation regarding adjacent or non-adjacent schools.

So I didn’t include it. And in the end ….I was right. And Moreno was determined to be Legal….our Team legal….and on to the playoffs we went….clean as a whistle.

But Mel didn’t make the ruling. And I knew it wasn’t going to be his call.

Swerdling was a good guy I think at heart. He was overseeing way too many teams. He was (at times) bumbling, forgetful, he wavered, he waffled….and him and I had many shouting matches through the years.

I think we committed the sin of dominating in the 20th District. The status quo wasn’t happy about it. There were probably a bunch of coaches that put Mel up to this.

I think that’s why he dragged it on for a few weeks. Even Mel knew I was right…he didn’t want to tell the posse that was out to get us I was right….so he tried to bully me into removing Ivan from our roster voluntarily so as not to lose face with his cronies.

It got annoying. The more he harped about it the more fun I had toying with Mel.

“I can’t believe you’d try and do something like this to a straight-A student who aspires to be a brain-surgeon someday Mel”

Or….

“You’re messing with a kid who already has established a non-profit organization to feed-the-hungry all over the world?…really Mel?”

Or…..

“This kid is also entrepreneurial. He owns several businesses and even has come to several Post 288 meetings at the Legion Hall and volunteered to wash all the cars of the former vets Mel”

It was hard not laughing at some of the bullshit I was making up about “The Golden Child” but I was trying to at least have some fun with this until somebody above Mel ruled on the legality of my team

And here’s the funny part. Prior to the season we turn in all the paperwork and Swerdling and another guy above him would “sign-off” on our paperwork before the season even began.

“Mel….you’ve already signed off on my team. We’re clean. Are you telling me you made a mistake?”

“Listen here Magee I don’t make any mistakes but…..”

“He’s untouchable Mel. Back off”

I was poking the proverbial hornet’s nest and having some fun with it.

I was right and knew I was. I stood firm. He tried to shove me around and make threats so I would voluntarily remove a guy from my team who was totally legal.

I stood firm.

He didn’t like that.

A guy in area six went through everything prior to the playoffs and determined we were totally kosher. It wasn’t even an issue.

Yeah….Ivan Moreno was “the Golden Child” during that three-week controversy going on behind the scenes as we made the drive to 20 wins!!!

Later in the season Mel would get officially introduced to Ivan himself. One of the funniest moments in Verdugo History!!!!

Mel had already seen Ivan twice….in the two games earlier in the season where we dominated his hapless North Hollywood Team.

But Mel was (like I said) bumbling and forgetful.

That was yet another Verdugo win in ’92.

Can’t wait to tell that story when Ivan got introduced to Mel !!!!