Distinguished group joins Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame

Abas, Berg, Dilfer among new members.

Published online on Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

The Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame ushered in perhaps the most distinguished class in its 51-year history Thursday at the Fresno Convention Center.

On the list was a Super Bowl champion, three inductees who won six Olympic medals, a two-time world wrestling champion, an All-America swimmer, two professional golfers and Fresno State's 1983 National Invitational Tournament team, among several Bulldogs sports competing on the national stage.

"This is one of the most heralded groups we've had in modern times," Hall President Pete Mehas acknowledged.

Inductee Stephen Abas, who won three NCAA wrestling titles for Fresno State, was overwhelmed by the company he was keeping.

"I feel a little out of place," he said. "I've had my accolades, but others have done more internationally."

Actually, Abas was right at home among the greats honored this night. He was a four-time NCAA All-American, an Olympic silver medalist and won two world titles.

A common thread ran through the speeches of the inductees: thanks for the support of Fresno fans.

"I've been all over the world playing basketball and there's no fans like the Red Wave," said Bernard Thompson, one of the "Bookend Forwards" with Ron Anderson on the 1983 NIT team. "People are always behind you here."

Some of the highlights:

-- Inductee Marquez Pope and former Bulldogs football coach Jim Sweeney hugging on the stage, then chanting "Bulldog born, Bulldog bred, be a Bulldog 'til the day I'm dead."

"Coach Sweeney took me under his wing," Pope said. "I'm from the inner city and I wasn't used to this Irish guy with thick hands. He put me in line a few times, but I understood that discipline."

-- Tom Goodwin, a Bulldogs baseball star and former major-leaguer who also said Sweeney inspired him.

"As a freshman, I had football on my mind and wanted to play. One day we were out practicing next to the football field and I heard [Sweeney] dog-cussing the heck out of them. I asked myself, 'Do I want to get it from [baseball coach Bob] Bennett in the spring and Sweeney in the fall?' So I didn't go out for football."

-- Abas gave much credit for his success to his Bulldogs coach, Dennis DeLiddo, but recalled one funny moment.

Abas won one of his world titles wearing a full head of dyed yellow hair.

"Coach DeLiddo didn't like that, told me to take my earrings out, too."

-- Anderson was inducted as an individual and a member of the '83 NIT team. The 51-year-old is still playing professionally in France and sent a video message for the ceremony that failed to run because of a snag.

"We tried to induct Ron 12 years ago, but he never returned here," Hall presenter Pat Ogle told the audience. "But the video crashed two different computers. It's one of those French things."

-- Four-time Olympian Laura Berg, who won three softball gold medals, gave special thanks to "the women of the Fresno Rockets for paving the way for all of us."

-- Former Bulldogs quarterback Trent Dilfer, who guided Baltimore to the 2001 Super Bowl championship, is now an ESPN football analyst.

"I have a face for radio, but they put me on TV. I love being around football. TV gives me the opportunity to stay in the mix and I hope to better enhance the viewers' experience."

Dilfer left college after his junior year to become an NFL first-round draft pick, but vivid memories of his time here came flooding back.

"I'll remember that life walk I made with people. Nothing grabs your heart like where it all started, and it was Fresno for me."