SCENE & HEARD: Bob Lenarduzzi, the East Vancouver kid who grew up on Dundas Street with three soccer-playing brothers, was one distraught young man in the autumn of 1978. He had just learned that a $10,000 bonus he’d been promised after being named NASL North American player of the year wasn’t forthcoming after all. Whitecaps’ general manager of the day - John Best - apologized and said the club would make it up to him somewhere down the road.

Nobody has to be reminded what $10,000 meant in the late 1970s. For some, it was a total year’s salary.

When it was suggested to the Whitecaps’ 23-year-old pin-up boy that he seek out a lawyer or agent, the very thought terrified him. “We’re not allowed,” Lenarduzzi said. “It’s club policy.”

Not for long. That very day Lenarduzzi was introduced to North Vancouver barrister and solicitor Ron Perrick at the Italian Cultural Centre restaurant La Piazza Dario. Six hours later, fueled by some fine red wine, they agreed to take on the Whitecaps’ club policy of “No Lawyers or Agents Allowed”.

After two meetings with Best at team headquarters on Boundary and Hastings, Perrick struck a three-year deal for Lenarduzzi, the $10,000 bonus included. What followed was fascinating. After the ground-breaking word spread among Lendarduzzi’s teammates, Perrick suddenly had a lineup outside his office consisting of players named Carl Valentine, Dale Mitchell, Alan Taylor, Kevin Hector, John Craven, Dominic Mobilio and Bruce Grobbelaar all looking for legal advice.

When Best left Vancouver for Tacoma, Perrick became the problem of incoming British-bred GM Peter Bridgwater. Bridgwater tried bullying Perrick into backing off and that was his first mistake. Perrick dug in the heels of his trademark cowboy boots and the rest is history.

Perrick wound up as legal counsel for Canada’s national soccer team for 15 years. He pretty well single handedly brought the soccer players’ salaries to the same level as the average NHL player at the time.

Today, as Lenarduzzi is the first former Whitecaps player to be inducted into the team’s new Ring of Honour, the pin-up boy and North Vancouver maverick lawyer of the late 1970s can share fond memories about how they changed the landscape of the game in Canada forever.

“At the time,” Perrick says, “it was a scene right out of Monty Python. But we persevered and eventually everything worked out.”

For the players, that is. Best and Bridgwater, no doubt, have never forgiven Perrick for his successful meddling of almost four decades ago.

And come to think of it, perhaps Lenarduzzi and Perrick should include the interloper who introduced them 36 years ago the next time they have a six-hour, wine fest at Dario’s. Dr. Sport just might make himself available.

END ZONE: When former pro Burnaby golfer Katrina Leckovic arrives in Wells, B.C. next week to start her new job, she should not pass go and head for nearby tourist town Barkerville. Leckovic has been hired as CAO for the District of Wells. Barkerville’s new is CEO Ed Coleman.

drsport@telus.net