Ralph Deppisch shot 80% from the field on his 80th birthday weekend
The Newport Beach resident spent Tuesday morning winning every pickup game he played, three days after turning 80.
By Amelia Gupta ·
Ralph Deppisch made 80% of his shots on a recent Friday. That performance came three days before his 80th birthday. On Tuesday, the day after his birthday, he played three separate pickup games and won all of them. He was 80 years old, six feet three inches tall, and standing on the court at the Newport Beach Athletic Club.
Deppisch lives near Newport Harbor High School. He drives across the bay to the Athletic Club for his morning games. He plays on Tuesdays and Fridays. He helped start this half-court, three-on-three league about 25 years ago. Most of his teammates are in their late 50s or early 60s. Deppisch is the oldest player by a wide margin.
He has played basketball since second grade. He grew up in New England and attended Manhattan College. He considers himself a Boston Celtics fan. Larry Bird is his favorite player. UC Irvine men's tennis coach Mike Saunders has played with him since the early 2000s. Saunders calls him Colonel Saunders. Saunders described Deppisch as having the grace and finesse of Larry Bird.
The group started as a two-on-two match against the Morris brothers, Steve and Darren. They played for a $20 Peet's Coffee card. Deppisch believes his team won more of those early games. Steve Morris, who stands 6-foot-7, called the early contests very competitive. Morris, a Corona del Mar High School graduate, now organizes the group. He makes the phone calls and texts to set up the games. He said he respects Deppisch's fundamentals.
Kelley Crosby, another regular, calls Deppisch The Godfather. Crosby said Deppisch is semi-retired but comes out when the team is short. When someone gets sick or injures an ankle, the players call for him. He walks down from the treadmill area to play. Crosby compared his arrival to Moses parting the Red Sea. Robert Morris, another alumni organizer, called Deppisch a total inspiration. He said it is hard to believe Deppisch is 80 based on his play.
On the Tuesday in question, a birthday cake was brought to the gym at 7 a.m. Most players ate doughnuts instead. Deppisch took the cake home. On the court, he dominated. He played against three different combinations of opponents. He won every game. He credited his teammates for keeping him involved. He said they invited him to play as he aged. He called himself the face of the group, but he emphasized the community aspect.
Deppisch rates his current game a soft B. He said he can hold his own and gives himself an acceptable rating. He noted that he did well enough the previous day to be invited back. The Newport Beach Athletic Club has been family-run for 55 years. John Bazacas started the business, and his son Tom now runs it. Tom said the environment helps these men stay friends and work out together.
Deppisch views the game as a way to conclude what he calls his 8 to 80 run. He started playing in second grade and is now 80. Crosby said everybody respects Deppisch. He said Deppisch has a heart of gold and has brought many people together. Crosby called him a very good man. Deppisch will likely be back next Tuesday morning for another round of three-on-three.
