On the Hall of Champions

In my days at Long Beach City College, I remember serving guests during a couple of dinners for the Hall of Champions. As a member of Thane and ASB Cabinet, I had the privilege of serving these guests. I had to be dressed in a suit and tie for this one, and I would serve these plates, pour some wine, and what not. It was the form of service your upscale fine dining establishments were made of.

Mind you, the floor was hardwood, and this was a gym that the guests were dining in. It was like a high-school gym in a way. But the reason the gymnasium, which was the home of Long Beach City’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, was called the Hall of Champions Gym was because there was a Hall of Champions, which celebrated the accomplishments of its many athletes who went on to bigger and brighter things in their respective sports, as well as in life.

As I was off duty, I would nibble at a dessert or two or and hors d’oeuvre (an acquired taste for some), before watching the event unfold. One time I was so tired and exhausted, and hungry, that they gave me some leftovers that the guests couldn’t stomach. Energized with a shot of water, I got back on my feet and watched the rest of the event, before feasting on some pizza afterwards.

So many great stars have been enshrined in the Hall of Champions. This year’s class is not different in terms of feathers in its caps. John Gonsalves was already enshrined in the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame, and had his jersey retired, and he was given a place in the Hall. Tom Clark, an accomplished cross-country and track star, is currently on the LBCC Board of Trustees. And Myisha Delaney helped the Vikings win their first state title in women’s soccer, and lead them to National Championship honors as a assistant under then-head coach Mauricio Ingrassia.

Looking back on my days at Long Beach City, I would do anything to experience it again. And to participate at the Hall of Champions dinner is something I will remember for the rest of my life.