Valley of the Retirees
Ex‑pro stars favoring move to Phoenix area
by Jason Stone

NORTH VALLEY – Maybe it is the good golfing during road trips or the warm weather all year round.

But whatever it is, one‑time professional athletes now like to call the Valley their full‑time homes. And some of them have decided to reside in the northern part of Maricopa County–from North Scottsdale to Anthem.

Former Phoenix Suns and NBA All‑Star Tom Chambers is one of a handful of former professional stars who have a home in the North Valley.

Chambers, a four‑time all‑star, became a fan favorite in the Valley when he came to the Suns from Seattle before the 1988‑89 season. With Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley, the Suns established themselves as the Valley's No. 1 sports attraction and the team nearly won an NBA title in 1993.

But Chambers certainly isn't the only ex‑pro who calls the north Valley home. Boulder Creek High School has former Major League Baseball player Craig Lefferts helping out with its program.

Lefferts, who was born in West Germany in 1957, played his college ball at the University of Arizona. The Anthem resident was a 12‑year Major League veteran who played for the Cubs, Padres, Giants, Orioles, Rangers and Angels.

During his career, the reliever notched 101 saves and 58 wins in 696 appearances. He also finished his career with a 3.43 ERA.

About the time Lefferts played, North Scottsdale's Steve Ontiveros was pitching for the Oakland A's, among other teams. Ontiveros now spends his time as owner of Line Drives, a baseball training facility in Scottsdale. Former Major League Brian Harper, another Valley resident, helps out with the facility, which is located at 15820 N. 84th St.

Ontiveros pitched 10 seasons for the A's, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox but should not be confused with the other former Major Leaguer with the same name. That Steve Ontiveros is a summer hitting instructor for the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the independent Golden Baseball League.

Other baseball players who have made north Phoenix their homes are journeymen Tony Clark, Damion Easley and Tim Worrell.

When it comes to football, former Arizona State and NFL star Phillippi Sparks is a big name among residents of the Stetson Hills area. In a nine‑year NFL career, spent mostly with the New York Giants, Sparks intercepted 27 passes and played in 151 games before hanging 'em up with the Dallas Cowboys at age 31.

Of course, a former football star with big name recognition locally is still coaching right in our own backyards. Cactus Shadows coach Chad DeGrenier led the Falcons to a 15‑0 record and a state championship in 2006, but it wasn't the 33‑year‑old coach's first claim to fame.

DeGrenier, a former quarterback at Washington State, played in the Arena Football League, including a season with the Arizona Rattlers.

Other former athletes that are rumored to live in the area are former Olympic swimmer Charles Hendricks, whose son, Chaz, swam at O'Connor High School; Dan O'Brien, the 1996 Olympic decathlon gold medalist; and Tommy Jones, the former Arizona Diamondbacks executive.

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.