Los Banos Rotary Club History
Moral Courage In Athletics Is Stressed

Pete Newell, University of California basketball coach Tuesday night advised members of the Los Banos Union High School basketball squads to practice moral courage in athletes and to "sacrifice for the good of the team."
Speaking before some 150 persons at the Lions Club annual basketball banquet, Newell declared "athletics can bring benefits to the young man, but can also do them harm if they cheat on them." He added "you have to give up things to be a top athlete.

Referring to the Bears varsity team that opened its season minus last year's forward and center, he said reserve players were put in these positions and developed into top flight players against some of the nation's top cage stars.
He said any athletics give young men such tangible attributes as perseverance, initiative and sportsmanship which "will make you a better man." He referred to moral courage, rather than physical courage as an attribute most desired since men often unknowingly display valor under stress, whereas moral courage must be developed.

The UC cage coach briefly related his squad's recent season and said one of the pleasures of intercollegiate basketball was the broadening experience of travel. The team appeared on the Ed Sullivan television show in New York.
Gold miniature basketballs were presented to graduating seniors by Lions President Victor Grassini. Receiving them were George Soriano, Eugene Bretz, Doug Jordan, Donald Accardo and Joe Sabetta.

The varsity squad was introduced by coach Doug Pederson, who lauded Jordan for his outstanding ability in backboard control. During the 1957-58 season, the Tiger center snagged 442 rebounds to break the school record of 262, for an average of 19.8 rebounds a game. He was no slouch on scoring either, Peterson noted, averaging 15.2 points a game.

Pederson praised Jordan's sacrifice to score spectacularly to take a role of backboard artist. The Tiger coach commented that the only way Los Banos had a chance in the Trans Valley League was to control the boards "and Jordan was the only one to do the job."

The varsity won 20 games and lost three. Looking back to the Tiger's defeat by Ceres "by two points and 30 seconds", Pederson said, "we don't feel bad about it because no one else in the valley could beat them either."

Tom Wallace, lightweight coach, introduced his squad, singling Donald Paradiso out as the player who set the class B scoring record in the Trans Valley League with 29 points. The squad won the championship of the seven school league. The varsity placed second.

Among the guests at the event was B. F. Sisk of Fresno, 12th District congressman.

Other organizations represented were the Los Banos Rotary, and 20-30 Clubs, Native Sons of the Golden West and the Los Banos Chamber of Commerce.

Dinner chairman was Sam Benidettino.

April 11, 1958

---