James Jenkins

Hamlet Nalbandyan GLENDALE -- The La Crescenta community has suffered another loss. James Jenkins, 19, a star boys' basketball player and swimmer at Crescenta Valley High School from 1998 to 2001, was found dead Thursday after apparently falling while hiking with his father, Dr. Horace Jenkins, in June Lake near Yosemite National Park. James Jenkins -- who recently completed his freshman year at San Jose State University, where he was a member of the men's basketball team -- had separated from his father early Wednesday morning.

Death is a sad thing, especially when a young person with their whole life ahead of them dies. Your coverage of the death of La Crescenta resident James Jenkins in Saturday's News-Press was quite extensive. I'm wondering though, had James been a member of the chess club or the drama department in school, and not been the quote-unquote sports "star" that he's been labeled, would the News-Press have given him the front page and another full-page story? Probably not. Why does our society elevate a person who plays with a ball to a heroic platform?

In response to Neal Bakke's letter in the Wednesday Community Forum, "Why does a ballplayer merit such attention?": In his letter, Bakke expressed his concern that "Saturday's News-Press was quite extensive" in regard to James Jenkins. He asked if the News-Press would have given the death of Jenkins, a La Crescenta resident and Crescenta Valley High School student, as much coverage if he had not been a star athlete. It seems there is always someone who makes a big issue about a particular group who is getting too much attention or not enough.

In response to Neal Bakke's letter of June 5, "Why does an athlete merit such attention?" I was personally offended about the article Mr. Bakke wrote, as were many in my community. I don't believe Mr. Bakke knew the wonderful, charming, and talented James Jenkins. He was not only a star athlete, he was an excellent student with such a future. James was raised in a great home with a wonderful family who gave endless support to all their children, as well as their community.

I am writing in response to the letter written about James Jenkins. Was it necessary to write a letter criticizing the coverage of James' untimely death? I didn't know James Jenkins or his family personally. But in La Crescenta, sports are a very big part of our community. My kids are not at CV yet, but we have attended many CV sporting events. We enjoyed watching James play basketball, as well as other sports and athletes. And every morning, our favorite section of the News-Press is the sports section.

School to dedicate courts in memory of James Jenkins Lincoln Elementary School in La Crescenta will be dedicating new basketball courts on its campus in memory of Lincoln alumni, James H. Jenkins, who died tragically May 29 in a camping accident near Yosemite National Park. The ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 18 on the school's playground. Jenkins' family and friends will be present for the dedication, along with past coaches and Lincoln teachers.

Hamlet Nalbandyan LA CRESCENTA -- The Riverside J.W. North High boys' basketball team came into Tuesday's CIF Southern Section Division IAA second-round playoff game against Crescenta Valley High with an overall record that was only one game over .500. It took the near packed house at the CV gym less than three minutes to figure out just how deceiving that record was. J.W. North went on a 10-0 run within the opening minutes of the contest, and it never slowed down.

In response to the June 5 letter written by Neal Bakke: Mr. Bakke, it is a shame that you were not fortunate enough to have met James Jenkins personally. Had you, you would know why the coverage of his life was so "extensive." James was indeed a "star," not just on the court or in the water, but in all of the lives that he touched. Yes, the News-Press did follow his athletic achievements, but it was within the personal interviews on his athletic successes that each of the sports writers were able to know the genuine, wonderful young man that James was. He touched their lives just as he touched my family's and hundreds of others in this community.

I cannot understand, nor do I want to understand, why someone would write such an insensitive and worthless letter to the editor. The tragic death of James Jenkins is not simply the passing of an outstanding student athlete. It is the loss of a gifted young man, a son, friend and valuable member of our community. Mr. Bakke, I am sure that if a talented chess player, gifted thespian or even straight-A student who brought as much joy and inspiration to friends and community had died, the News-Press would treat that individual in a similar manner.

Erik Boal Crescenta Valley High School and the community of La Crescenta are mourning another loss of a standout athlete. Thursday night, the News-Press learned that 2001 CV graduate and San Jose State University freshman James Jenkins died in an apparent fall while on a hike while vacationing with his father, Horace, in Northern California. Jenkins is the third prominent CV graduate to die since July 1999, along with 1997's Danny Morris and 2000's John Barbaro.

Fittingly perhaps, it seems as if four years have gone by fast for Crescenta Valley High’s Zack Torres. In the fall of 2005, he was recognized as the fastest freshman in California cross-country. And in the spring of 2009, he graduated from Crescenta Valley with a laundry list of Pacific League titles, all-this and all-that accolades and a spot running for UCLA awaiting him. During his senior year, he finished second in the CIF Southern Section Division I cross-country finals and second at state, all of this coming after a repeat as league champion and before he dove across a San Diego finish line to tie for 15th and an All-American honor at the Footlocker Nationals.

The first CIF Southern Section championship was a "huge relief." The second provided an "incredible" ending. Two team titles. One history-making season. That, in short, was Devon Borisoff's junior season. The La Cañada High boys' water polo and swimming standout accomplished in a year what high school athletes dream of doing in a career. In the fall came a Division III title that had eluded La Cañada since 1999. With the title came a cascade of accolades. Borisoff, regarded as one of the top 2-meter defenders in the Southland, was named the Division III Player of the Year.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan Today, the Glendale News-Press strives to be the best community paper. The sports department covers 10 high schools and Glendale Community College, as well as youth sports. Mixed in with the coverage are weekly features and columns penned by writers who each provide his unique touch to a story. In the new millennium, the sports department has tackled controversial issues and has stretched itself for the community, traveling across the country to provide the news.

Charles Rich Six miles from the site of many captivating moments stood those who created them. On a seasonably warm afternoon, more than 25 former Crescenta Valley High boys' basketball players paid homage to James Jenkins on Monday during the second annual Falcon Basketball Golf Classic at the sparkling new 7,141-yard Angeles National Golf Club. Jenkins enjoyed center stage inside the CV High gymnasium, scoring 1,545 points during a splendid three-year stint.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan The second annual Falcon Basketball Golf Classic will be a homecoming of sorts for two of Crescenta Valley's past greats. Former Falcon basketball Coach Ed Goorjian and former CV star Brad Holland will be special guests at the event, which will start at noon Monday at the Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland. Goorjian was CV's first boys' basketball coach. He guided the Falcons to a 328-103 (.761) record from 1963-78. Goorjian's 1971 team went 29-1 and fell to L.A. Verbum Dei in the CIF Southern Section Division 4-A championship game.

Charles Rich About 25 green golf carts were stacked in rows on the worn-out rough. The people seated in the carts were familiar figures linked to the town of La Crescenta and the Crescenta Valley High boys' basketball team. They came together Monday to participate in the inaugural Falcon Basketball Golf Classic at Brookside Golf Course. The event was geared to raise money for the program and honor James Jenkins, a former CV basketball and swimming standout who died May, 29, 2002, at the age of 19. The event raised about $4,000, CV Coach Jim Smiley said.

It's an emotionally fragile time that we're living in right now. Our country is dealing with numerous war-related issues, especially the threat of further terrorist action. People all over the world are coping with SARS, a disease that has claimed more than 700 lives in recent months. And locally, a La Canada High student-athlete had his entire life change in a matter of seconds Saturday night after being shot in the face at a post-prom party. So what do all of these issues have to do with sports in our area?

Soon, Jason Jenkins will graduate from Crescenta Valley High, his brother John will do the same from UCLA, and as is the custom with occurrences such as these, the Jenkins family will gather around for a group photo. And that's when something will feel terribly wrong. "Those are the hardest moments," says Mary Jenkins, a 55-year-old mother of four. "It feels like a part of you is missing, and you try not to let the family notice, but they feel it, too. "I don't think I can ever get over that feeling, because there will still be a lot of times when our family will not be whole because someone is missing.

Charles Rich Editor's note: The following is a review of the 2002 spring sports season. GLENDALE -- It's time to bid them a farewell, but not soon forget the players and teams who exemplified excellence during the 2002 spring sports season. Crescenta Valley High graduate James Jenkins will not be forgotten. Jenkins died May 29 from injuries to his neck that were caused when he was swept down a waterfall near Yosemite. There were a handful of individual and team accomplishments that will be etched in the minds of fans.