Polson sports fan donates memorabilia for good cause
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POLSON – When Polson resident Monty Marengo met NBA athlete Michael Cooper of the Los Angeles Lakers more than a decade ago, he knew there was something special about him. As a sports photographer back in the 80s, Marengo spent his time photographing some of the top athletes of the era. It was during that time that he developed a relationship with Cooper that would eventually open the door for Marengo to help spread his passion for basketball to others.
Throughout the years, Marengo acquired various sports memorabilia. After amassing approximately half of his collection in person, Marengo’s stockpile of autographed balls, jerseys and helmets doubled when he purchased signed sports items from a business in Bigfork. Marengo’s collection grew to more than 80 items that he is now donating through Troy Polamalu’s media organization Wild Hair Media.
“I’ve enjoyed it all, but I don’t need it,” Marengo said. “I’d rather it help out the kids.”
Proceeds from the online auctions will go to help lower costs for children to attend basketball camps hosted by Marengo and Cooper on the Flathead Indian Reservation next June, along with other Indian reservations around the country, for children in grades 3-12.
“A basketball camp in Los Angeles costs $400 a week,” Marengo said. “You have to charge half of that here. We want to get camp costs down to $125 a person.”
The first guest he’s attempting to recruit for the camp is Los Angeles Laker all-star Magic Johnson. If he can’t get Magic, his second option is retired hall-of-fame Los Angeles Laker James Worthy.
Some of Marengo’s collection includes signed jerseys from Bo Jackson, Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and Drew Brees. He also has signed footballs from Barry Sanders, Tiki Barber and Joe Namath.
Baseball collectibles such as a 1959 World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers baseball, signed Yogi Berra ball and a Pete Rose jersey are just a few of his lengthy list of memorabilia that will be sold through Wild Hair Media on eBay.
Of all his items, his lithograph and signed card from Steve Prefontaine, worth an estimated $4,000, is one of his most prized items of all time. Prefontaine once held the American record in seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters. Prefontaine died at the young age of 24 in a car accident. Marengo says quite a few of his items are now timeless pieces, because a large amount of his collection is from athletes who have passed away.
The first $1,000 raised will be split between Polson native Melinda Owen to help pay for her Olympic trials in June 2012 and Polson basketball youngster Payton Lefthand, who is trying to raise $5,000 to attend an NBC International tour basketball camp in Europe next summer. According to Lefthand’s mother Renee Pierre, Marengo’s donation will be a great start to help saving. Marengo even offered to buy additional items and hold raffles to raise money for Lefthand.
“It’s going to be great and help a lot” Pierre said. “There is a lot of fundraising to be done.”
Marengo says he would’ve never been able to utilize such a popular media organization if it wasn’t for his relationship with Cooper. Marengo estimates his collection is worth anywhere from $75,000 to $90,000, but he says experts have predicted the items will go for around $220,000.
As a five-time national champion, and part of Pat Riley’s “Great 8,” Cooper took his love for basketball to the WNBA, where he was the head coach for nine seasons, before settling down at his current position as the University of Southern California women’s basketball coach.
With the proceeds, Marengo plans to work with Cooper in hosting multiple basketball camps around the United States. In the past year, Marengo has made five trips to Los Angeles to work on the camp, and says he’s 90 percent done.
