Joining the NH Dunk-N-Diamonds has become a fixture in my athletic side of life.
Once a week, sports takes center stage with a group of men.
Joining Manchester Ink Link has become a fixture in my journalistic side of life.
Once a week, sports takes center stage with a group of readers.
My column, ‘I’ on Sports has allowed me to use “Where are they now?,” “Spotlight On…”, and “Remembering…” as a tool to ensure that a number of celebrated athletes will never be forgotten.
And I must thank Carol Robidoux for the opportunity to do that.
However, ‘I’ On Sports, allows me to do something equally important, especially to me.
It allows me to focus on two of the most important parts of sports – coaches and officials – which, by the way, comprises the membership of my group – the Diamonds.
A number of my brothers have agreed to share some of the “experiences” they’ve had as officials and as coaches. So, because I “know where they are now”, I’m going to put a “spotlight on” them in the hope that you’ll always “remember” them.
I’m a baseball guy so “up” first is a former neighbor (we lived just houses away from each other), a former peer (we both taught at the same high school), and a former MMHS coaching staff member (we both coached at Memorial).
His name is Peter Perich.
PETER PERICH – OFFICIAL AND COACH
Part 1 – BIO
1. NAME Peter Perich
2. WHERE BORN? Manchester NH. – Elliot Hospital
3. WHAT JOB HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER? Teacher – administrator
4. WHAT SPORTS HAVE YOU PLAYED? Soccer, baseball, hockey, track and field.
5. WHAT’S THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED FROM PLAYING SPORTS? Respect for coaches, officials/umpires, sports are only a game so have FUN.
6. WHY DID YOU BECOME A COACH? Various levels for about 30 years – Love working with kids, love the competitive nature, the spirit of athletics
7. WHAT SPORTS HAVE YOU COACHED? HOW MANY YEARS? Soccer – 30 years, Softball rec. 8 years
8. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT COACHING? Competition, relationships made
9. WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT COACHING? Losing— games and graduating seniors
10. WHY DID YOU BECOME AN OFFICIAL? To stay in the game for the fun of it, relationships partners, coaches, and players over the years.
11. WHAT SPORTS HAVE YOU OFFICIATED? HOW MANY YEARS? Baseball-57 years, softball-48 years, soccer—53 years
12. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT OFFICIATING? Being part of the game.
13. WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT OFFICIATING? Making a mistake/blowing a call especially in a big game.
14. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A PERSON INTERESTED IN BECOMING A COACH? Put your time into it to learn every aspect of the game from practice to game situations to learning the rules.
15. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A PERSON INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPORTS OFFICIAL? Don’t do it just for the money though the extra money is good. Learn the rules inside and out. And don’t stop learning them. When you think you’ve made a mistake, go back and read up on it so that it doesn’t happen again. Don’t listen to the crowd. Remember that you were a fan also.
Part 2 – “EXPERIENCES”
The One That Really Hurts
“As a coach, it really hurts every time you lose in the playoffs, but two playoff losses really stick out.
The 1st one, MMHS is at Bishop Guertin.
With 10 minutes left and the score is tied, BG’s All-American, Chris Flint, was controlling every aspect of the game. The referee stops the game to move our fans off the field. It takes a good ten to fifteen minutes to do that and we lose momentum and then the game 3-2 in OT.
For those of you who may be wondering why fans were on the field if it was a tie game –
In the ’70s and ’80s many fans went to the games and stood on the sidelines close to the field. Through the excitement, the fans inched closer and closer until they were “hugging” the touchline which left no room to throw the balls when they went out of bounds.
The 2nd one is verses Alvirne.
“This one was in my first year of coaching, we are at Alvirne leading 3-1 with 5 minutes left in the game. The problem is that MMHS is really showing that we were tired.
Alvirne scores two late goals to tie it and, after four overtimes, the Broncos win on PKS (penalty kicks). The lesson that I learned from that game is to have a curfew before big games, because sometimes high school kids, being high school kids, forget how important a game is and stay out really late.”
The Most Important Thing I Learned From Sports And How It Affected Me
“Responsibility and respect of my coaches, players, and fans. It also taught me to be a fair person instead of cheating to get the edge over my opponent.”
The Greatest Game I ever Coached
“Well, it could be one of two games.
The first is obvious. State championship game beating Exeter 2-1 in OT. Senior Sean Dillon scored his first high school goal in overtime and MMHS went on to win the state championship.
The second was when Jeff Wilkinson scored the game winning goal against Londonderry in the semifinal before the championship game.
The amazing thing about that game was that many of the people at the game were cheering against us. Why? Because of how we won the quarterfinal game against Merrimack.
Why did fans cheer against Memorial?
A Merrimack player refused to leave the field after a red card. The referee gave him one minute to leave (he didn’t) at which time he forfeited the game to Memorial.
The Merrimack team and fans thought they were cheated out of the last 22 minutes so they showed up to the semifinal game in the stands with the number 22 painted on their chests cheering against us.”
The One That I Can’t Forget
“In a regular season contest, Memorial was playing city rival West.
Goals were spread all around.
At the end of regulation, it’s MMHS 4, West 4.
In an amazing 10 minutes of OT, West scores 5 goals and Memorial scores 4 goals.
West’s star player, Eric Lee, scores 5 goals and the Crusaders ace, Jimmy McCall, adds 4 more.
It was in this game that I, Memorial’s head coach, was red carded for the only time in any play of my life.
Why was I red-carded?
At the end of the 3rd quarter the referee told one of my captains that if something happened (which I don’t remember what), the player would be removed from the game.
Well, the captain never told me. One of my players was removed and I pulled an ‘Earl Weaver’, kicking the dirt and yelling.
Red card.
Learned my lesson from that game on to control my emotions and coach.”
The Most Embarrassing Thing I Ever Did As An Official
“This is also my favorite story as an umpire.
I’m the plate umpire in the game between the USA and Cuba Olympic teams in a pre-series in Millington, TN.
As the game starts, I am having trouble with my contacts (true-no excuse, but it would be a good one).
The game is being televised on Sports Channel and there are over 6,000 people at the game and
Charles Johnson is the USA catcher.
I yell ‘Play ball!’ then start calling the pitches – ‘Ball one! Ball two! Ball three! Ball four!!’ to the first Cuban batter.
The 6’4″ catcher turns around to me, the shorter umpire from Manchester, NH, and says ‘Blue are you a little nervous?’
I answer, ‘Just a little.’ with a big smile. ‘
Charlie states ‘Put your arm now. This pitch is coming right down the middle! (It did.)”
Ted Menswar Jr. is a life-long resident of the Queen City and a retired member of the English Department of Memorial High School who has been involved in local sports for 70 years as a player, a coach, a mentor and a fan. He can be reached at tedmenswar@outlook.com