GROUNDED GOOSE - Lindsay Hovermale is a new friend I’ve made while covering races, and last Sunday she was happy to have won her 19-24 age group in 21:25, but also elated that her boyfriend - due to a goose mishap - was able to attend the race. I listened attentively to the story of how he had to miss work that day because a goose had crashed through the windshield of a car - I figured he was a DNREC officer. It wasn’t until later I comprehended that a full-sized Canadian honker “kamikazed” through his windshield.
All I could think to say was, “You’re lucky it wasn’t an airplane,” and he said, “No it was a goose.” I meant he was lucky he wasn’t flying an airplane because geese at 500 mph create quite a mess in the cockpit. I neglected to get the name of Lindsay’s boyfriend so he shall remain “Goose Guy” until I get a clarification email.
UP ON YOUR TOES - Two summers to many summers ago I ran every stupid road race on the calendar because someone laughed and told me I couldn’t. Once, early in a race on the Dewey back roads, a father said to his little son, “C’mon Brian, you know you can stay up with that guy.” I looped back to the curb and basically told the guy he could abuse his overachieving child all he wanted but to leave me out of it.
I then resumed running and tried to walk the dog on his 8-year-old, but the boy was way gone. No one sees more runners finish races than me. I’ve listened to nonrunning spouses who couldn’t run if someone pushed them down heartbreak hill scream “Pick it up” or “Get up on your toes.” If it were me there would be a marital reckoning right then. I think all someone needs to hear seconds from the finish is “Good job,” otherwise you are the sprinting for the chute moron and unless you really hate the person in front of you just let it go.
TUGGING THE TARP - If you missed Shane Victorino and Abraham Nunez and the rest of the Phillies wrestling with the Colorado field tarp in support of an overmatched ground crew, you missed a magical moment in professional sports where young men came to the rescue of men who actually work for a living because as Victorino said, “Some things you do just because it is the right thing to do.”
This Phillies team is fun and frustrating to watch, but they appear to be really nice kids, which is what anyone under 30 can still call themselves.
WONDERMENT OF WORD GUY - Words is what I do and once again I was out by the Cape high school track looking at the site work and resultant havoc wrought by large machinery. I quickly deduced a pattern to the piles of dirt, many with tire tracks, and realized I don’t know the difference between a retention pond, a culvert, a swale and a plain old drainage ditch. All I know is we didn’t need them before so how come now?
The football field has been scraped - that didn’t take long - so how many months are required to lay down the field turf? The progression of this $75 million project is fascinating and I’m sure right on schedule. But do the print and plan guys in the little air-conditioned trailer hasve any real clue how this all works?
FAST EDDIE - I ran into Cape fullback from the 1987 team Eddie Gaines last Wednesday at Gold’s Gym. Eddie “No Pain” Gaines was a 1,000-yard rusher who relished laying licks on hot dogs who thought they were fully cooked. After a hot 1987 practice and long post-practice speech among no-see-ums and greenheads - from Coach Rob Schroeder admonishing players for lack of focus and effort - Eddie said to me,” Coach Fred, Schroeder doesn’t fool me. I can read him like a book and I can’t even read.”
Another time in 1987, Eddie was with me outside Veterans Stadium - free Temple tickets - when the Eagles came walking from the practice field. Eddie looked down over a railing and got the attention of No. 20 Andre Waters.
“Dirty Waters! I love you man. You are just ignorant!”
Eddie knew what he meant and so did Waters and it was all good. Eddie, trim and fit and looking like Mad Max, is a bartender in Manhattan and told me last “off season” Chase Utley came into his crowded place with some people and Eddie asked for his name so he could start a tab. Chase smiled and said, ”OK, my name is Chase “ and Eddie said, ”I know you’re Chase Utley” then proceeded to give Utley every stat from his entire career. He then asked Chase, “How come Pat Burrell is always backing away on called third strikes?”
Eddie is the perfect sports bartender. Remember his brother Billy had the Rehoboth Avenue extended Mulligan’s which then became the Double L and I think I’ll take a mulligan on that one - know what I’m sayin’?
SNIPPETS - I think Barry Bonds should break the home run record, retire and get full congressional immunity, then tell the entire story of how his head got so jelly bean big. He would emerge as a hero and could go around and give lectures at high schools and actually save lives. What would he have to lose? Hall of Fame? But people talk more about Pete Rose not being in there than if he were enshrined and the same goes for Bonds.
Local Little League trackers, please give me a heads up on the progress of your team. Email me at davefredman@comcast.net, or look for my white 4-Ruuner at the Lewes Iris Eyes construction project.
