Gretzky, Montana Sons Hobnob on High School Team

Sporting legends cheer on their offspring at California's Oaks Christian
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 14, 2009 5:40 AM CDT
Gretzky, Montana Sons Hobnob on High School Team
Oaks Christian high school's Nick Montana, son of NFL quarterback Joe Montana, looks to pass in the second quarter against Skyline during a football game last month.   (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

California's Oaks Christian is ranked the fifth best high school team in the country but the sporting icons in the stands often get more attention than the players. The '49ers superstar Joe Montana and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky regularly turn up to watch their sons, quarterback Nick Montana and his understudy Trevor Gretzky. Teammates say the teens do their best to blend in despite their famous dads. "They're just kids trying to be kids," said one.

The quarterbacks say they've learned to deal with people making assumptions based on their parents' sporting prowess. "I think Nick’s situation is 10 times harder than mine,” Trevor told the New York Times. “My dad was in a whole different sport. They can’t compare my stats to his." Gretzky says Montana's father is recognized more often than his own, although Will Smith gets the most attention when he comes to watch his son, Oaks Christian receiver Trey Smith.
(More high school stories.)

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