Judging from the wave of comments I’ve received since starting this weekly writing adventure, many coaches are darn near national treasures.

My email inbox is loaded with stories from guys who can’t praise their former coaches enough.

Former Ripley Central School varsity baseball and basketball coach Jeff Buchholz checked in after reading my column on knuckleballs.

“I thought I’d share a personal story which suggests anything in athletics is possible and the class demonstrated by a college baseball coach,” he began.

Mike Orbinati

“Growing up in North East, I played three sports but had a passion for baseball. But North East had no baseball programs. Nothing after Little League, but I had gotten hooked on baseball.

“I attended a small college in Tennessee and was on a partial basketball scholarship. They had a baseball team, and I tried out despite never playing after Little League. All players were on scholarship, but I made the team, probably because the baseball coach was the basketball coach.

“I played sporadically and almost didn’t play my senior year, but a coaching change led me to give it a try. I made the opening day lineup at first base as the projected starter got tossed out of school. He was a very good player but had some ‘light fingers.’

“Batting 9th, I homered and hit a double which was the start of a very good season. I ended up leading the team in every offensive category. Some scouts looked but I had a ‘scatter arm’ and if my glove got left out in the rain, it would have rusted. But I had the satisfaction of playing college baseball and doing well.

“I got engaged to my first wife, a southern gal with a June wedding planned. I had no money for a ring for her, (we did not share that story).

Fran Rogel

“A couple of weeks before graduation I was called to my coach’s office. To my surprise, he gave me a very good-sized check as he had budget money left over and felt since I had the year I had, and everyone else was on scholarship, I deserved the check. I bought an engagement ring that afternoon. I don’t know who was happier, my future wife or her mother.

“From there I ended up at Ripley and was fortunate to have a lot of ‘good kids’ and enjoyed coaching both basketball and baseball.

“As you can guess the lessons are, never give up on your dreams and the world can surprise you with some very good people.”

Thanks, Buck. Good lesson about a good coach. Clearly, one of many out there.

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Chip Hussion, a member of Cardinal Mindszenty’s unbeaten 1958 football team, understandably has much respect for his head coach, Mike Orbinati.

He recently offered three tales from his time wearing the Purple & Gold.

Here’s what Chip had to say with, as usual, a wee bit of editing.

“You were asking about funny memories of which I have a couple tied to CMHS sports.

“My junior year during baseball practice Coach Orbinati was yelling at us to do certain things and as I was chasing a foul ball, as catcher, he yells, ‘Hussion run, Hussion run, Russian hun!'”

Then there was a senior year scrimmage against Silver Creek.

Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Fran Rogel, a friend of Coach Orbinati, was watching.

Rogel did not miss a game in his eight seasons in Pittsburgh (1950-57). “Hey Diddle Diddle, Rogel up the middle” proved to be a popular cheer. Steelers head coach Walt Kiesling used that play to open virtually every game.

Anyway, Chip wrote, “Jim DePaul, ‘Chief,’ got into a fight with one of the Silver Creek linemen and the coaches started to break it up when Rogel yells, ‘Let them go!’

“It lasted about three minutes with Chief the winner.”

Finally, let’s return to Cease’s Restaurant on Central Avenue in Dunkirk back in 1957. Or maybe not?

Chip ventured some guesses, writing, “Junior year ?? At Cease’s ?? Restaurant on Central Avenue.

“Gene Rybij, one of CMHS’s fine athletes, had been experiencing some issues from a concussion and thought it would be funny to drop a lit cherry bomb in the toilet in the restroom.

“It blew the toilet off the floor and water was shooting everywhere. Needless to say, Gene was taken into custody quickly as police were not far away.

“Orbinati had to go down and explain a concussion and bail him out.”

Thanks, Chip. Good stuff.

According to local legend, that was not the only time Orbinati bailed out a Monarch who had run afoul of the law. Details, anyone?

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DO YOU have a favorite, funny, weird, best or worst memory of amateur sports refereeing, playing or spectating? Drop me a line at mandpp@hotmail.com and let’s reminisce.

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Bill Hammond is a former OBSERVER sports editor.