By Ryan Carlson (@RyanCarlson88):
Five pro-athletes who have a special connection to San Jose were recognized for their achievements at the 23rd annual San Jose Sports Hall of Fame induction at SAP Center last Thursday night.
What does the city of San Jose mean to these athletes? Many grew up here and are still heavily involved in the community.
“This is extra special to me because San Jose is my home,” said former NCAA women’s soccer champion and Olympic silver medalist Danielle Slaton. “I was born here and I got to learn how to be a professional athlete in this city.”
Slaton grew up in San Jose eating, sleeping and breathing soccer her whole life and still continues to be around it today as an analyst for Fox, NBC and other networks. She is also a sideline reporter for the San Jose Earthquakes.
Rodeo Hall of Famer, collegiate and professional steer wrestling champion Jack Roddy, age 80, was born in downtown San Francisco and moved to San Jose at the age of five. His father, an Irish immigrant who fell in love with the sport, sparked Roddy’s passion.
Roddy has won numerous world championships and has had many unique experiences. He grew up often taking his pony into town for candy while in elementary school. Never the best student, he flunked out of Bellarmine High School and was then drafted into the army.
“This fills my bucket list. So many of my friends are here and this is my home town and this is where my rodeo career started,” Roddy said. “I love the sport, I love the people in it. I’ve met presidents of the United States and a lot of famous people. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Baseball All-Star, Gold Glove Winner and 1996 National League MVP Ken Caminiti was inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 2016 before joining the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame. Caminiti died tragically in 2004 from a drug overdose. His daughter Kendall filled in for her dad.
“Growing up, I didn’t know any different than having my dad on tv play professional baseball,” Kendall said. “I was a little girl, so whenever he was up to bat, I would run over and watch.”
The man who made “The Catch” for the San Francisco 49ers, tight end Dwight Clark was unable to attend the event after recently being diagnosed with ALS, but he did put together a video thanking the audience. Clark’s best friend Gino Blefari, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices, was there in his absence.
“It’s sometimes, it almost seems surreal because we are just buddies,” Blefari said. “I am a business guy and he’s the football guy.”
Former Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Championship-winning coach Mark Marquess was honored for his 41 years as head coach for Stanford baseball. He was previously inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame.
“The highlight of my career was in February where about 130-140 former players of mine came back to honor me before a game,” Marquess said. “For them to come back from all over the country was really the most important part of my career.”
After being a part of Stanford and Bay Area history for so long, Marquess was honored for all the success he brought to Stanford University, as well as other achievements such as the 1988 olympics where he led the United States Baseball team to win the gold medal in Seoul South Korea.
“Means a lot to me,” Marquess said. “To think that I would be even considered for this with all the other Hall of Famers is quite the honor.”
Along with the induction, other athletes were awarded for their performances this year including High School Athletes of the Year Lauren Green and Hunter Schilperoort, Amatuer Athletes of the Year Katie Ledecky and Maverick Mcnealy and Special Olympics Athlete of the Year Kris Peterson.