Dunn: Collecting sports memories in ‘Press Pass Paradise’

There’s abundant hope, joy and amusement in “Press Pass Paradise,” a collection of sports essays, features, profiles and spot reporting.

It’s a sportswriter’s memoir, my new book available on Amazon, featuring rare insights, interactions with star-studded celebrities and heartstring-tugging human interest stories, along with forgettable quotes, embarrassing circumstances and some of the most eye-popping sports moments in American history.

A discussion and book signing will be hosted by Talking Sports from 3 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the Oasis Senior Center in Corona del Mar.

At a time when sports can be full of betting odds, mysterious metrics and overwhelming analytics, “Press Pass Paradise” is a feast of storytelling, contentious opinions and surprising romance. There are faith-based twists and turns, honesty and sometimes more than the eye wants to see.

Whether it’s a satirical spin on the cellar-dwelling California Angels of the 1970s or covering a team filled with future Hall of Famers in the 1980s, there are must-read baseball chapters, as well as stargazing NFL installments, quirky episodes on the golf course, original accounts of John Wayne’s tennis club in Newport Beach, although the silver screen icon never played tennis, and stirring profiles, such as a father battling terminal brain cancer and COVID-19 restrictions, yet still competing in an Ironman Triathlon to teach his young daughter about perseverance.

There’s the account of a former motorcycle speedway world champion who became a television star and later battled through the tragic loss of a son.

There’s the yarn of almost missing Kirk Gibson’s famous home run in the 1988 World Series, remaining in the stands in the ultimate act of insubordination while covering the game with my sports editor.

There’s the embarrassing moment of getting called out by golf icon Jack Nicklaus after an erroneous reference to his longtime compatriot Arnold Palmer, saying “Arnie golf,” not “army golf.” Thankfully, the Golden Bear was forgiving, and did not growl or bite as my wife had considered.

There’s a chapter touting Newport Beach as the Water Sports Capital of the World with its vast array of waterways, recreation and sports, including sailing, rowing, surfing and every other water sport imaginable along the Upper Newport Bay, Newport Harbor and 26 miles of sandy beaches.

There are exclusive chronicles about the four local country clubs, the Hoag Classic on the PGA Tour Champions, Irrelevant Week and the roasting and toasting of the last player picked in the NFL draft.

There are references to sailing with a world-class yachtsman, hitting tennis balls with a Wimbledon champion, walking 18 holes of golf with Bob Hope, cornering Jimmy Connors into an interview after his attempt to dodge the media, sharing personal insights with Nolan Ryan, celebrating with actor/comedian Bill Murray, exchanging movie passes for Angel tickets with Rod Carew, coaching basketball against All-Star outfielder Garret Anderson, talking with Bo Schembechler after his last bowl victory, covering 300-game winners squaring off (again) for the first time since 1892, sulking with the Famous San Diego Chicken and striking out Mark McGwire.

Happy New Year sports fans!

Richard Dunn, a longtime sportswriter, writes the Dunn Deal column regularly for The Orange County Register’s weekly, The Coastal Current North.