Page 5 - kappbook2020

MY NEW HOME IN NEWHALL I 25

accordingly, and I worked to honor his trust in me. He was my second
father. For whatever reason, he believed in me. He used to start his
pregame speeches by reminding us that it didn't matter whether we
were playing for money, marbles, or chalk-the game demanded you
give your best. That included playing by the rules. The way he taught

us always stuck with me. To give less than your best or to cheat dis-
honors yourself, your teammates, and the game itself. Coach Lewis
expected his players to honor the game at all times. He was an old-
school gentleman and the fiercest competitor I ever knew. If he was
my second father, then the teams at Hart High were my extended
families. I felt camaraderie and kinship playing sports. The structure,
stability, and camaraderie of team life under Coach Lewis replaced
something that was sometimes hard to come by in my childhood. A
team is a family, and a family is a team.
Our tailback was a guy named Gary Yurosek. He later changed his
last name to Lockwood and became an actor. He starred in the film
2001: A Space Odyssey, among others. Gary taught me a lesson that
would be driven home on many occasions when I worked in Holly-
wood: actors need their proper dose of attention. Gary felt that he

should be getting the ball more. I disagreed and explained that I was
calling the plays that our coach wanted me to call. I wouldn't give in
because it was what was best for the team. The argument got hot, and
it brought a challenge to fight.
I've always loved Westerns, and now I was about to star in my own
standoff. Gary and I agreed to meet on the hill behind the high school
after practice. I arrived on foot and waited for Gary for what felt like
forever. Then a brand-new Chevrolet rolled up. Gary got out slowly
and strode over to me, and we stood nose to nose. I braced for battle.
He looked me straight in the eye and declared, "We don't need to
fight." I was relieved. Maybe Gary just wanted to see ifhe could bully
me, or maybe he saw the light. Gary was the son of a wealthy farmer
and was established in the town and at school. I was the new guy. Had