Monty Marengo, 58, of Polson has been to the World

Series, all-star games for Major League Baseball and the NBA, and

the Final Four as a photographer and fan.

But what he’s about to do next is priceless in

comparison and far more memorable.

Marengo is donating his collection of sports

memorabilia — 85 items total — to help raise money for several

sporting causes in Montana.

“I’ve been involved with sports for 40 years,”

Marengo said.

“I’ve already experienced my (sporting) life. This

will benefit other people.”

Marengo is donating 41 autographed NFL jerseys (Joe

Montana, Brett Favre, Roger Staubach, Joe Namath, Ray Nitschke,

etc.), 13 autographed NFL helmets (Paul Hornung, Tony Dorsett, Ken

Stabler, etc.), 12 autographed NFL footballs (Barry Sanders, Gale

Sayers, Dick Butkus, etc.), 3 NBA jerseys (Kobe Bryant, Paul Gasol,

Elgin Baylor), 11 Major League Baseball uniform tops (Pete Rose,

Duke Snider, Whitey Ford, Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, etc.),

autographed baseballs and several other items. They will all be for

sale on eBay the end of October or the first part of November.

The items are being handled by Wild Hair Media, which

is owned by All-Pro strong safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh

Steelers. Wild Hair Media is a California  company that promotes

fundraisers for athletes.

Marengo is also working closely with USC women’s

basketball coach and former Los Angeles Lakers star Michael Cooper

on this project.

“I don’t need it any more,” Marengo said of his

valuable collection.

“The money I’m making from this will allow other

people to go and enjoy their sports (and dreams).”

Seventy percent of the money raised from the sale of

Marengo’s memorabilia will go to Cooper’s charities in the inner

city of Los Angeles and Albuquerque, N.M.

Marengo will receive 30 percent.

“They (Wild Hair Media) estimate this project will

bring in $125,000.

“My very first autograph was 1972 — Steve Prefontaine

at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. How ironic that 40 years

after that, a girl (Melinda Owen) from Polson is trying to go to

the Olympics.

“I will donate some of the profits to Melinda Owen

and to Peyton Lefthand, who is going to Europe next summmer on a

Nike camp tour. He’s 11 years old.”

Owen, a 2003 Polson High School graduate and former

University of Idaho standout, hopes to compete in the 2012 Olympics

with the U.S. track and field team in the pole vault. She does most

of her training at the U.S. Olympic Center in San Diego. 

“We are going to have a Michael Cooper basketball

camp with either Magic Johnson or James Worthy at the SKC gym and

Two Eagle gym in Pablo next summer. Some of the profits will go to

kids who want to come, but have no money.” Marengo said.

“I did camps with Cooper in the 1980s in New Mexico,

Idaho and Montana for five years and we are still great friends. He

still loves Montana.”

Marengo had originally planned to have the items

shipped to Torrance, Calif., last week. 

“They wouldn’t pick it up ... too valuable,” he

said.

“Too much glass (framed jerseys) in the crates.”

So Marengo will now personally deliver his collection

later this week. He plans to leave Thursday and has rented a U-Haul

for the trip.

“I’m getting rid of everything except for the signed

jersey by Michael Cooper,” Marengo said.

His favorite item?

“To be honest, the Prefontaine autograph,” he

said.

“Second favorite ... Cincinnati Big Red Machine (1975

team) in a box frame with nine autographed baseballs.”

But those he’s parting with.