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The Living Legend
Tom Martinez
 

 
Anyone that has ever played for Coach Martinez knows he has a way with words... and actions! We thought it would be fun to relive some of those unforgettable moments. Share your fondest memories of this living legend for everyone to enjoy. We will post all stories that are worthy of Junior College's most successful Coach in the history of California. The man, the myth, the legend... Tom Martinez.

Marvin Hopkins
"You have hands like feet and couldn't catch a cold if i threw it at you!" These are the words in which inspired me, to catch passes from many different quarterbacks at csm. My most memorable was before the 75th anniversary game at home. My dad had just passed away and i went to talk to coach mar, before a wednesday practice. I told him I wasn't feeling well about the game because of what had happened during the week. He said your family is first and if i didn't want to play that i could sit the game out. Well come saturday i was suited and booted and had a heck of a game. Afterwards i realized that i was with my family in blue and white. Thanks coach mar for everything you put in my tool box.
 

Robert Sinclair
I attended John Muir Elementry School in San Bruno. Some School psychologist would come out and test some of the students for learning disabilities. I was labeled LD and placed in special education classes K-6 grades. I was taken out of a normal class setting and placed in special education classes. I know know that the School Psychologist misdiagnosed me because I was raised by a mother who was deaf in one ear and disadled. So I got a slow start. By middle school I was in lower skill classes and by High School, it was the same situation. In High School, my friends found me funny because I was strong enough to lift cars up and move. Playing football at CSM seemed like the next logical step. So I played football at CSM and dropped out my first year because of academic problems. I consulted Coach Martinez and he said "don't give up, keep pushing through the classes and come back next year to play. So I came back and did great, I won the second best defensive player award and had a scholarship offer to Sacramento State University. After attending Sacramento State University I developed football injuries and decided my career was over. I later went back to Sac State and transfered to UNLV. At the age of 38, I am a senior at UNLV and ready to graduate.
 

Toni Hadnott (Gore)
I have so many stories of coach. I played basketball for coach 81-83. I owe much of the person that I am to coach. I remember coaches laugh and his smile. I loved when we were traveling to a tournament. He made the trips fun. Coach made sure we ate well. He would take us to special places that he like in certain area's. He would tell us stories. I know all the lady bulldogs will remember our road trips to the college of the redwoods, Santa rosa ect..I think I was a freshman in 81-82. We were beating a team by 20 points at half time. Coach was upset because he felt we were not playing to our potential. He took us into the other Gym and made us run liners at half time. He sure new how to motivate us. Boy some of the things coach said were so funny. But I too will keep them in the lady bulldog family. But the one thing that I think every athelete that has played for coach can agree with is. This man is the most passionate competitor there is. Coach you not only tought me how to be sionate and competetive about what I did on the basketball court but also passionate about my life outside of basketball. 20 years later I still pass on your legacy to children and students on the court. Everytime I teach 24 and 36 It is a tribute to you. Now I tell players to settle down and play under control. smile. Thanks coach for teaching me so much about the game and being a smart competitor.
 

James Pale
We're in the team house looking at the previous game's film, and Coach Martinez starts to rip into my buddy (who will remain nameless). He says, "You're too damn soft!" Then he gets in my buddies face for more emphasis- "You [insert your favorite Martinez expletive here], you are too goddamn soft! I bet when you fart, it doesn't even make a sound-- it just goes WHEW (making a whistling sound)." He must've thought about what he had just said because instead of cursing my buddy to hell, he started smiling- then we all started laughing. He made All-Americans feel like crap when he yelled, yet most times we didn't laugh--maybe because we all knew our turn might be next.haha. Amen to "A story cannot capture the essence of this man." My personal favorite Martinez line? "You big Tongan piece of $@#$!" Through all the yelling, I know you meant well, Coach. Most of us GOT IT, and you made us better men.
 

Mario Vasques
A story cannot capture the essence of this man. Therefore, I will keep my stories within the bulldog "family" besides, most if not all, would require significant editing for publication. I just wanted to comment that Coach Martinez, was more than a coach to all the players that had the honor of representing College of San Mateo. Personally, I can say that coach was a positve influence in my life. I am sure that many of my teammates and fellow Bulldogs would concur.
 

Terry Butler
Towards the end of the first half of a game against West Valley Coach Martinez walked all the way down from the coaches box and was yelling "Tracey Butler, Tracey Butler, back up." He believed that they were going to throw a bomb on me. Anyways I turn towards him during a play and ask "who are you talking to?" and asked the guys on the side line to "tell him my name." They told him and he turned around and said "what ever the hell your name is get your ass back!"
 

John Galvin
We were playing Ohlone college it was halftime.In the locker room coach Martinez yells offense get in the shower room.We all knw what that meant THE VOICE CHAMBER. Coach voice carried well on the field imagine in a dialed 50 by 50 enclosed room.Well he hymned and haught about his girls basketball hitting harder and had more guts than us at a baritone that would shake the three tenors. Well to make a long story short we newly named ballless wonders took the field for the 3rd quather.I looked at the scoreboard to see if I remembered correctly.I was right it said CSM 21 Ohlone 0. THANKS COACH. ONE OF YOUR BALLLESS WONDERS.
 

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