THE SILVER FOX - This is just good old down-home stuff. It’s the bottom of the fourth inning and Cape is clinging to a 2-1 lead over favored Sussex Tech inside their hot and dusty yard. A “bang bang” play at first base and the Sussex County Sheriff - Eric Swanson, the first base coach - yells a quick “safe”! The first base umpire Charles Shelton follows that with his own safe call!
“The Silver Fox,” Cape head coach Bill Cordrey, springs from the shade of the dugout hovel.
“Let’s go, blue. Don’t let him make the call, you make the call.”
Umpire Shelton responded forcefully, “Don’t you come out of that dugout no more!”
The Silver Fox went back into the almost level with the ground hideaway and the sheriff stayed silent.
EXPERTS EVERYWHERE - Sporting events are always conventions of experts and almost everyone seems to know something everyone else does not. When games of importance are lost and explanations are sought the first and foremost scapegoats are the officials which is why they never hang around for hot dogs afterward.
Cape lacrosse lost to Sallies in the semis of the state tournament and in these millennium times, generally, if you don’t score close to 10 goals you are unlikely to win. I was surprised after the game to hear some Cape fans, some of whom were relatives of the players, break the game down to poor officiating.
“More like poor taking care of the ball and backing up shots,” I said.
Sallies, obviously, ragged every offensive player every chance they got which effectively slowed down Cape’s offensive attack, but with seven minutes remaining the Vikings were up by a goal and a minute after that it was tied with 2:45 remaining.
Mike Adkins scored what proved to be the game winner and the final tally came when Cape was out of the goal chasing the ball.
A game that could have gone either way until the final minutes went the way of Sallies. Officials are pressed into making big calls in close games and possibly a few are questionable, especially the ones you don’t like, but it is always the players who determine the outcome.
MOVE OVER WYNONNA - Who the heck is Dario Franchitti and what’s he doing winning the Indy 500? Could Michael Andretti really be his teammate and Danika Patrick as well? And what is he doing married to Ashley Judd? When I saw Ashley in the victory celebration hugging her hero and laughing like a macaque monkey, all I could think was “pass the biscuits” Wynonna, your sister is in town for the family barbeque. Why does it seem that all rich and famous people know each other? It’s because they do!
HOWARD PORTER DIES - I remember the great 6-foot-8 Villanova basketball player leading the Wildcats into an NCAA championship game where they lost to UCLA 68-62. I knew his coach, Jack Kraft, who recruited me out of high school, but the admissions office saw my inclusion as detrimental to Philadelphia mainline class and culture. Porter was found in a Minneapolis alley a week ago basically comatose from a severe beating. He died last Sunday. Porter most recently worked as a probation officer and previously in his life he battled the demons of drug addiction. Everyone spoke of his great and winning personality, but obviously some bad person(s) didn’t think so. This is a sad sports story and teaches us a valuable lesson. Be careful out there and don’t associate or commiserate with unpredictable and nothing to lose bad people. There have been no arrests in the Porter case.
SNIPPETS - Soccer may be the game played by the most people in youth leagues across America, but is it America’s most popular game? I guess if popularity is defined by participation then yes, but if defined by television exposure “the old revenue generating sport” then definitely not. Lacrosse put 55,000 fans into M&T Bank Stadium last Saturday. Too bad many of them didn’t show up because what I saw was too many empty seats to equal 55,000 live bodies.
I was never on the Duke lacrosse redemption train, although it makes a nice story. Captain Speed rode a motorcycle through a ring of fire to celebrate his 80th birthday and now several years beyond that Speed is getting ready to lock up another dream of his by being the oldest person to be named Cape Gazette Athlete of the Week.
This June 15, weather and federal laws permitting, the Captain, who needs no further introduction, intends to parasail from Cape May to Lewes where he will be set down into the bay and walk to shore in moment wet-footed triumph. Speed is still waiting to attain the age where he is mature enough to own his own Harley.
Lacrosse and Field Hockey at the Beach! July 15-19, July 22-26, July 29-Aug. 2. Space available for individuals or teams. Open to athletes in grades 6-12th, beginner to elite. Residential and day camps available. Girls Lacrosse in only for the week of July 15-19. Located in Lewes, call (610) 855-8079.
Go on now, git that kid into camp!
