Shrine game cancelled

For the second time since 1952, there will be no Shrine All-Star Football Game this summer.
Because of a lack of organization, the Al Malaikah Shrine was forced to cancel this year's game about six weeks ago.
"Multiple people got sick and it just seemed to snowball," Shrine recorder Tom Reoch said. "We were only going to be left with a few weeks to organize. We were kind of left high and dry.
"Rather than put on a second-class event, we're holding off until next year."
The game has long been an important fund-raiser for Shriners Hospital for Children, which has 22 locations throughout North America. Its Los Angeles hospital provides free treatment for more than 7,500 children.
For decades, the event was a can't-miss, mid-summer classic for Southland football fans. But what once were sell-out crowds at the Coliseum turned into only a couple thousands fans at Citrus College for last year's renewal.
The only other time it was cancelled was in 1984 because of a last-minute dispute over the game site.
Evaporating television coverage, declining ticket sales and the emergence of localized all-star games have taken their toll on the Shrine Game.
Reoch, however, guaranteed the game would return next year despite all of the factors against it.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with that," Reoch said when asked if the cancellation is because of the game's growing struggles. "We don't do it to make money. The money we make goes to the children, so we're always looking for more people to go watch the game. But that was not the reason it was canceled."
Most people will view this year's postponement as a sign the game soon could become extinct, but there have been a growing set of indicators pointing to such a possibility for years.
The once popular North vs. South format that pitted the state's top recently graduated football talent was ended after the 1994 game.
Fans got a brief reprieve with a California vs. Texas matchup until 2001. The game went back to a North vs. South format for the 2002 contest.
But interest sharply decreased when the game format switched again in 2003 to a Public vs. Private format between only Southern California public and private schools. That arrangement has led to a watered-down talent pool and some uncompetitive games dominated mostly by the Public team.
Los Altos' Greg Gano, who coached the final California vs. Texas matchup in 2001, is worried, like most people, that a game with such history might be on its last leg.
"I think it's unfortunate because that was the elite game for years," Gano said. "I was really happy I coached it. It was really a great thing to do."
Controversy swirled over the selection process of last year's game when it was alleged some roster choices were made because of business ties between player parents and game organizers, or preferential treatment from coaches.
Despite all its troubles, Reoch is confident the Shrine Game will return next summer after its one-year hiatus.
"I'll guarantee it will be back next year much bigger and better," he said. "It's very disappointing for us because this was a fund-raiser for the hospital. But it will definitely be back."