Missing - Nikki Fritch

Hi All-
This was not the intent of my blog, but it's important for me to use it now to spread the word for a missing a child. Nikki Fritch is friend of my daughters and she has been missing since 10:15pm on August 21st. She was last seen in Canyon Lake CA and does not have her phone, car or money. There were signs of a struggle and her disappearance is completely unlike her. It's been a day full of posting and handing out fliers in search of someone who is a good friend of the family and who we've had in our home. Please take the time to spread the word through social networks feel free to link back to this page.

Nikki is 17 years old, 4'11" and weighs 80 pounds. She was last seen in dark colored jeans and a multi-colored shirt. If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact her family at 951-852-7970 (her Dad Jeff) or the Riverside Sheriffs Dept at 951-776-1099

Thank you!

Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, 1952 - 2010

I'm still saddened by recent passing of Gary "Big Hands" Johnson. Enough so that I've taken to (finally) starting my blog.


Big Hands had a huge influence on me becoming a Chargers fan as I entered my teens. In my home, I lived with a my parents and my Dad refused to watch sports, particularly any team I may follow. If the Chargers were playing the Raiders, he would scream out "Go Raiders!". Whomever they played, he became a fan of the other team in order to thoroughly annoy me in a (sorry) attempt at humor. The nice thing was we were fortunate enough to have two televisions.


It was in the late 70's & early 80's that I clearly remember venturing off to our family room, locking the door behind me, to watch the Chargers (and later Sockers) play. This was my escape from my parents and a time when Air Corryell and the Chargers reeled off several division championships. What a great escape!


Even though Air Corryell was the talk of the town, it was the defensive line of the Chargers (Kelcher, Dean and Johnson) that stands out vividly in my memory. It was the sacks and blocked passes by that group that would have me up and out of my chair, screaming at the TV in support of my Chargers. A tradition I proudly carry-on today :) Funny what we take with us as memories, but for me when I think of the Chargers one of the first images that comes to mind for me is Big Hands. It an image of him with with his long reach pushing back the offensive line and just barely getting a hold of the QB to bring him down for a sack.


Any article you read on Big Hands now is sure to mention what a genuinely good person he was. That's not something you hear a lot of nowadays and something lacking in general in today's athletes. Makes me wonder if he were playing today, would someone like Big Hands be Tweeting? Begging for fans on his Facebook page? Would he be fighting for equal time and publicity on TMZ? I'd like to think that would not be the case.


I miss the Chargers teams and personalities of that ERA.  Gary "Big Hands" Johnson was at the top of my list of favorite players and he will be sorely missed. As I yell at the TV this year in support of my Chargers, I will do so with Big Hands in mind, hoping and praying the he helps push the Chargers to the next level.


Thanks for the memories Big Hands! See ya on the other side :)