That seems to be the big question as AYF pundits gear up for another Olympic showdown in the Motor City this Labor Day.
The natives are getting restless. Diehards like Sonny Gavoor, Harry Derderian, and Nick Stepanian are at wits end, last we heard.
They’re waiting for something good to happen with their K-T kids. Losing is not an option, even though they tell you it’s not all about that.
“Fair play, camaraderie, sportsmanship, and spirit, that’s the ultimate prize,” they’ll tell you.
But when you’ve been on top of the AYF ladder for so many years, it’s right where you belong. No doubt, Alex Sarafian, Armen Derderian, and the Gavoors (Sonny and Nancy) have been hitting the recruitment trail looking for talent to beef up the ranks. Sonny’s age could be the biggest ploy in AYF history.
Any Detroiter with an inkling of Olympic blood does not have to search very far to find the Holy Grail. Go back a dozen years to 2002 when this chapter dominated a rain-marred blitzkrieg to retire the Cup.
Yes, this city 3-peated to retire its second Cup in 10 years. That’s six victories in one decade.
With a persistent rain and bitter chill tormenting the stadium, the champs remained unscathed, rolling up 140.5 points in what turned into an abbreviated affair.
The output nearly doubled that of runner-up Providence with 72 points, and a surprising Worcester in third place with 59 points, fully supplied by six athletes. The Arams’ Meredith Davis copped five gold medals that year.
Fourth place went to the host chapter Philly with 40.5 points. However, let it be known that the Sebouhs have been the majestic team ever since, racking up title upon title with magnified recruiting, buoyant coaching, and a cadre of superstar athletes.
Oddly enough, when Philadelphia last hosted an Olympics in 1995, Detroit also retired the Cup that year with a record 209.5 points.
Detroit had the guns that year behind distance runner Tom Stamboulian, who upstaged previous record-holder Michael Baskin in the 3,200 meters, and swimming stalwart Greg Karapetian, part of that prodigious family of turbojets.
The Stamboulian-Baskin duel was a dandy as it came down to the stretch before Tom eked out the gold with a torrid finish. No better run was seen in recent years than this one, living up to its hype.
And once again, the two hooked up in the 1,600 meters where they finished less than a second apart at the tape.
For Karapetian, it marked his swan song, finishing an illustrious career with 134 points—5th on the all-time scoring list.
It turned into an all-out pool party for Detroit that equated to “The Perfect Storm,” or in some instances a “Titanic” that refused to sink. Led by the Karapetians and a crew of other nautical buffs, Detroit registered a stalwart 59 points, more than twice the number of runner-up Philly with 26, while Providence could muster only 19.
Putting it mildly, it was a harbinger of better things to come for the Motor City Gang as they pursued the rest of their Olympic trail with reckless abandon. Names like Sosi Hagopian, Dikran Callan, Nick Katcherian, Jennifer Tosoian, and Seena Karapetian (triple gold) were mainstays that year.
In tennis, Ani Kamar took care of the women’s side, making it a third gold.
What’s more, Detroit captured its first softball title since 1993 by toppling Providence, 11-4, thereby halting a string of seven straight crowns worn by the Varantians.
Olympic musings
As far as hospitality goes, Detroit does it up right, taking nothing away from the other communities. Every detail is appropriately covered from the Alumni Night straight through to Monday’s picnic.
In speaking from experience, there’s never a hiccup in the monologue here—from the food, to the music and dancing, and the athletic games. Everything is within close proximity, with transportation always facilitated easily.
The grapevine tells me that Detroit once again has taken the necessary steps to ensure another colossal weekend. We were out there for an NRA Convention this past May and same red carpet treatment. You couldn’t have written a better script.
The time, effort, sweat, and sacrifice that goes into something like this often escapes the public eye. It’s been a year’s worth of diligent planning and preparation for the 81st time.
Traditions have a way of manifesting themselves accordingly whether it’s a newly crowned athlete or applauding a new king/queen. Packing a dance hall or meeting an eventual soul mate. Wish I had a dollar for all the new friendships that have been inculcated over this weekend.
Best of luck to all involved.
Tom Vartabedian
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