By
Tony Lee
On
Friday, September 04, 2009
Meet a Pirate is a new standing feature on the OCC Sports Blog.
This is just like the Q and A feature but with a twist.
The athlete will pick seven random questions out of 30 or so pre-written questions out of a hat. Some of these are sports related, some are personal, some are meant to be comical. No matter what the question, an athlete has to answer it truthfully.
The first athlete for this feature is women's soccer player Lara "Tish" Tishler. She is a sophomore midfielder from Fountain Valley High School who had two goals and an assist in the season opener against Rio Hondo on Aug. 28. 
Do you have any superstitions and why do you have or not have it?I always have to french braid my hair when I play soccer and my electric tape for my shin guards have to be taped the same way. Sometimes I have OCD a little and so my tape has to be pretty straight and same on both sides and I've just kept it that way. And the braid, I tried it out and had a good game with the braid in and kept it that way ever since.Do you have any guilty pleasures?Probably eating ice cream and cookie dough. My biggest thing is not making cookies when I have cookie dough. I'll end up eating those big jars of cookie dough and not making any of it. What’s the most stressful thing that’s ever happened to you at OCC and why?This first week right now has been really stressful. I got dropped out of two of my classes and one of mine was changed to something else - they changed the time on it - and I'm having to petition for three classes right now. What's the weirdest thing in your room and why do you have it?I have a bunch of dried out leis and flower laid out in my room. I have a branch/twig head wrap thing sitting in my room.Do you think you deserve more playing time or why do you deserve or not deserve it?I think I play a pretty good amount. I wouldn't mind playing a whole game, that wouldn't be to bad. I think I deserve it too. I work pretty hard out here, come to every practice, put forth a lot of effort on and off the field.
How many hours a day do you spend on Facebook, Myspace and/or Twitter and what else should you usually be doing instead?I probably take half an hour to an hour a day, maybe. I don't really go on the computer that often. Instead I should be probably doing homework or something or go outside. I hate being stuck inside.Complete this statement: If my coaches found out that I... they’d probably kill me.I didn't tell my coach this but I was in a cast for a week and I took it off early. I was supposed to have it for two weeks and I didn't say anything. It's perfectly fine now but I did take it off a week early.Questions you want answered by athletes can be submitted to coastreportsports@gmail.com and I would add it in the hat.[Photo by Tony Lee]
By
Tony Lee
On
Friday, September 04, 2009
The lady Pirates will host an alumni volleyball scrimmage today (Sept. 4) at the Peterson Gym at 6 p.m.Yours truly will be in attendance and attempt to take some volleyball action photos for the blog. Photos will be uploaded later tonight.EDITThe 2009 lady Pirates defeated the Pirate alumni in four sets today as the prepare for the season opener on Wednesday (Sept. 9).All the results of this alumni game will be available in the first Coast Report issue of the fall semester.The pictures below are of the 2009 lady Pirates. Head coach Chuck Cutenese is the man in the bluish-purple shirt. 
[Photos by Tony Lee]
By
Tony Lee
On
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Athletes are just like any other students at Orange Coast College. They too need a syllabus, petition for classes and follow school rules to be at school.An orientation for the Coast athletes were held today (Sept. 2) at the Peterson Gym for a class meeting of sorts - where OCC's Athletics Director Barbara Bond talked about athletes having to take a minimum of 12-units to be eligible, the H1N1 virus, what not to post online and expected behavior during games or matches.But it wasn't just about requirements. Everyone in attendance got treated to a show by Coast's national champion cheer and dance team and got free food and drinks afterward. One of the key points that stuck out at the meeting was that Bond said you should not drop a class unless you are certain you can add on another class.She said that it will be harder to add on a class for next semester (maybe a foreshadowing of the effects of the budget cuts) and if you do not have 12-units, you cannot play your sport.Another interesting point was the do-not-post-something-online-you-might-regret bit, and I have to agree. The last thing I want to do is post about some OCC sports scandal on this blog.
Bond also introduced key staff and administrative members involved in OCC athletics, including new interim president Denise Whittaker (pictured holding mic).It was an informative and entertaining orientation today.And it also made me realize there are a lot of athletes in our school.It looks like I'm going to have a busy semester, and I'm loving it.[Photos by Tony Lee]
By
Tony Lee
On
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
OCC's 2009 State baseball championship team were one of the many teams honored at the Salute to Champions Night at Angels Stadium Friday (Aug. 28).
Prior to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Oakland Athletics baseball game, any team that's won a state, national or world baseball championship was allowed to parade on the field at 6:30 p.m.
To read about the dramatic season the Pirates had in 2009, click here.
And when you win a state championship, you get a big, fat championship ring to celebrate and remember the moment forever.
This is head baseball coach John Altobelli's hand and ring. The bracelet with "J Wat #22" on it is for teammate Jourdan Watanabe, who died at the start of the season.
Click here to read the coverage of Watanabe's candlelight vigil.
The rings also has the engraving "Forever a Pirate, J Watt 22" on the side. Today (Sept. 2), I had the honor of holding Altobelli's ring myself.The picture doesn't do it justice - it is massive, fancy and perfect for the occasion. Once again, congratulations and hope we bring another state title to Coast in 2010.[Photo courtesty of Keri Altobelli]
By
Tony Lee
On
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
The men's soccer team played its first preseason game before the 2009 fall semester at home and lost 3-1 to Rio Hondo College on Aug. 27.I'd write a summary myself but OCC's Sports Information Director Tony Altobelli beat me to it. [Click here to read the game recap] After talking to head coach Laird Hayes at practice on Monday (Aug. 31), he said Toshi Fujimura, an all-Orange Empire Conference player in 2008, will not play for the Pirates in the fall because he did not pass a three-unit online class to be academically eligible.He added the team still has depth and can be competitive despite losing Fujimura.The Pirates will play its second home game today (Sept. 1) against San Diego Mesa College at 4 p.m.Results of the SD Mesa game will be posted later on the blog today.EDITThe Pirates are back on top, as the men's soccer team defeated visiting San Diego Mesa College 2-1 Tuesday at the OCC Soccer Complex.I was also taking some pictures of Tuesday's game and will have those up in the near future. To read the game summary written by Altobelli, click here.[Photo by Tony Lee]
By
Tony Lee
On
Monday, August 31, 2009
Today (Aug. 31) was the first day of the 2009 fall semester at Orange Coast College and I'm excited to report to you that the sports season has begun.To my delight, I found out today that the men's and women's soccer teams already played its first games, all the fall 2009 sports are ready for the season and we have multiple aspiring sports writers on the Coast Report staff.[Click here to see how the men's soccer team played in its first match]This means more sports coverage for you guys and more dedicated time on the OCC Sports Blog from me.The year has already started I'm optimistic this will be the best sports coverage OCC has ever had in its history - and yes, you can quote me on that.I can't wait to reveal my "It's Me, Tony Lee" column on Sept. 9 and the rest of the upcoming stories for the 2009 fall semester. Make sure to follow the blog's Twitter account (@OccSports) to stay updated throughout the year.
[Photo courtesy of kellsmurthwaite.wordpress.com]
Do you have any superstitions and why do you have or not have it?
