About the Authors of The Toughest Chicano: Joe Kapp, J.J. Kapp, Robert G. Phelps, and Ned Averbuck
Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp is the only man to quarterback a football team to the Rose Bowl, Grey Cup and Super Bowl. He led the Minnesota Vikings to their first Super Bowl, and throughout his life has been a shining example of leadership, courage, and integrity. He is also the man that paved the way for free agency in the N.F.L. (Ken Belson, New York Times) He started the fight for free agency with his lawsuit against the N.F.L. for anti-trust violations.
He played college football for the University of California—Berkeley, then embarked on a professional career in the CFL (Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions) and the NFL (Minnesota Vikings, Boston Patriots).
J.J. Kapp, Joe Kapp, and Robert G. Phelps
Between 1971 and 1982 he acted in seven feature films and over 50 television productions. Afterward, he served as head coach of the California Golden Bears from 1982-1986. Kapp is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame; he died in Los Gatos, California on May 8, 2023 of Dementia related complications.
J.J. Kapp
J. J. Kapp is the only child of Joe Kapp and Marcia Day Kapp. After obtaining his bachelor of arts from Chico State University and his JD from Santa Clara University, he served as a trial attorney for the Santa Clara County (CA) Public Defender's Office from 1990-2017. He and his wife Pat have two children, Frank and Kelly. Listen to interviews with Doug Miles:
https://youtu.be/3yDgq0RCt-w and Ron Barr:
Robert G. Phelps
Robert G. Phelps is a sports writer, screenwriter and filmmaker who earned an MFA in film and television at UCLA in 2013 after working for almost twenty-three years as an attorney in the Santa Clara County (CA) Public Defender's Office. He's written feature stories for the Los Angeles Angels, the Arena Football League's San Jose SaberCats, and Parachutist. He is the owner of Robert G. Phelps Productions LLC.
Ned Averbuck
Ned Averbuck
Born in New York, Ned Averbuck spent his childhood in East Los Angeles and obtained his bachelor of arts from the University of California. He is a lifetime high school and college instructor, and served as director of the Pete Newell Basketball Academy from 1981-2012. Ned and Joe were teammates on Cal’s basketball team. They have remained compadres and partners since their college days.