A relevant tradition

Alex Coolman

“They said I was going to get a call from this crazy guy in Southern

California,” Matt Elliott recalled, thinking back to the day in 1992 when

he was drafted by the Washington Redskins.

Elliott was the last player picked in the 12-round draft and, as such,

became Mr. Irrelevant, the anti-hero of a Newport Beach celebrating

teamwork, inclusiveness and good times.

The “crazy guy” in question was Paul Salata, the former San Francisco

49er who founded the event and who still takes an active role in its

operations.

Back in 1992, Salata called up Elliott and told him what, as Mr.

Irrelevant, he could expect: a week of being treated like a king in

Newport Beach, partying like mad and raising money for charity.

“I said, ‘you gotta be kidding me,’ ” Elliott remembered.

But the title of Mr. Irrelevant -- and the events of Irrelevant Week that

surround the crowning of the final draft pick -- are no joke. This year’s

events -- which start Monday to honor Mike Green, a safety chosen by the

Chicago Bears -- mark the 25th time the event has been held.

And every year, its organizers say, it seems to grow a little bigger.

“It’s not that irrelevant anymore,” said Salata’s daughter, Melanie

Fitch, the event’s CEO. “It takes full-time work from March till now” to

coordinate with all the charities and sponsors that are involved.

Something about the oddball spirit of Irrelevant Week, which venerates

“the worst of the best” in the NFL, seems to resonate with people.

Salata speculates that the event’s appeal had to do with the way it draws

attention to the little guy on the totem pole, the person who works away

at a discipline -- be it sports or business or something else -- without

garnering the glamour of the superstar.

On the teams he played for, Salata said, “some people achieved more than

others, and they were all-Americans and this and that.

“Then there were the junior varsity and others who hardly got recognized

at all, but without whom the team wouldn’t make it. The point is that

they should be treated equally.”

This year, in recognition of the silver anniversary of the event, about a

dozen former Mr. Irrelevants, including Elliott, will be returning to

Newport Beach.

Salata said winning the coveted Irrelevant title appears to be a good

foundation for a post-football career. One of the men who once wore the

crown is now a Missouri senator. Another is a West Point graduate.

“I don’t see any bums in the whole lot,” Salata said.