Boys’ basketball: Fairfax shot operator is recovering from surgery

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James Samson, known as Sam, has been the clock operator for Fairfax High home games for more than 25 years, never missing a game.

But Fairfax Coach Harvey Kitani said Samson underwent double open heart bypass surgery earlier this week.

‘He said, ‘I’m sorry I can’t be there,’’ Kitani said after visiting him in the hospital. ‘He’d take his shirt off for Fairfax.’

Kitani said Samson is stable after surgery. Friday’s scheduled game against University was the first game Samson would have missed, but it never got played because of a ceiling problem.

Maybe someone doesn’t want Fairfax to play until Samson is back running the clock.

-- Eric Sondheimer