LOST LINGO - A year ago on a Sunday morning at the Outback Steak House, there was a fundraiser for girls lacrosse. Before leaving my dumb self walked right into the vortex of Lingo males who were sitting in a booth, you know, just for a friendly visit. They commenced to crack on me like a Thanksgiving walnut. I never retaliated, just kept nodding my head up and down. Carol Lingo, wife of Kenny and former Senior League All-Star manager, who had the tournament director calling Williamsport twice during a big game for rules clarifications, laughed and said, “You are like an honorary Lingo. They talk to you like they talk to each other. You and Susan should show up for Thanksgiving.”
Speaking of field hockey, I understand there is discretionary money in the budget for the building of a great big high school, and some would like to see part of that spent on laying down turf on the hockey field. Project director types said it would be foolish, if not irresponsible, to spend a big chuck of money at the beginning when it is uncertain that money will be there at the end. Well, speaking as an honorary Lingo, I say: “Go ahead and spend it, turf that field - we’ve got you covered!”
DON’T DOWNTOWN - Here is a word to teachers, most of whom don’t need to hear it. Don’t downtown your students in public; that is lame and not admirable and reflects badly on you. And it logically follows not to run down your school at cocktail parties and happy hours. Most people on the outside get their perceptions of schools on the inside from you, not radio and newspapers. I always maintained a loyalty bond with my students and I expected it to be returned.
Cape is teeming with talented kids - and staff - in all the buildings and it is overwhelming and overpowering. And I’m not just saying that because I don’t just say anything, in fact, if pushed to be positive, I get instantly negative. The students tell their own story, so as this school year and school sports seasons begin I’m looking to “out” the purveyors of negative image because, quite frankly, I’m tired of burnouts picking on young people they don’t even know. Peek-a-boo, I’m watching you!
JAXS - Jacqlyn Baughman is the 10th-grade manager for the Cape Henlopen football team. Last year she was “The Manager” for the freshman team and the two years before that at Beacon Middle School. Jaxs, as she is known to friends, was on the Cape girls track team as a freshman and ran on a freshman mile relay team that won its heat in the state meet. She runs with a football player’s mentality, just a tough kid.
“I just love football, especially the Eagles,” Jaxs said from the sidelines at last Wednesday’s high school practice. “And I can’t wait for the games to start under the Friday night lights. That is going to be so much fun.”
I asked Jaxs what she has learned from her years being so close to football.
“I learned during timeouts to get out there right away with the water,” she said. “I learned about all the different pads and how to fix helmets, how to keep the pink cards for medical emergencies alphabetized and ready.”
In an honest moment if you ask a coach to pick a most valuable person they will reflexively point to the manager. And, over my sports career, I’ve known three who earned college scholarships and just maybe Jaxs will be No. 4!
YOUNG TALENT - James Botti, program coordinator at the YMCA for youth and adult sports, is talented, smart and computer savvy, an organized real sports guy who “gets it.” James could walk into the Cape athletic director’s job and simply get it done, but I haven’t discussed that with James and, anyway, there are several people who could do it but only one gets the job.
The time Bud Hitchens got the job 10 people applied, including me, and 10 were interviewed and all of us were asked the same questions lame questions: “What would you do if a bus broke down?”
I had a resumé so impressive Susan asked for my autograph. No one on the round table committee read my resumé because they know me and know I ain’t my resumé. I told them that all of the nine people before me were qualified, but if they wanted the most different person they should choose me and all nodded their heads in silent agreement that choosing me - “The Fredman” - would be a downright down home bad idea.
By the way, the requirement to have been a Schedule A head coach was dropped because no one knows what that means. The quest for the athletic directorship is now wide open and the answer is no, I will not apply, even though I could pad my Cape record for getting rejected for the most positions I never wanted in the first place.
SNIPPETS - P.J. Kesmodel was recently approved by the Cape school board as the new head coach of girls lacrosse at Cape. Kesmodel, an assistant at Cape the last two seasons, replaces two-time mother Gretchen Wyshock who relinquished the job when I wasn’t paying attention. P.J. coached the Mount Hebron boys to a Maryland state championship before beginning a girls program and later winning six titles in a row - or was it seven?
“P.J. instituted things that literally revolutionized the game,” said Mark D’Ambrogi, the boys lacrosse coach at Cape. “The head women’s coaches at Maryland and Virginia are former players of his and still call him for advice.”
Beth Bozman, Rehoboth summer resident for 20 years and new Fredman friend through Gold’s Gym, has been the head coach of the field hockey team at Duke the last four years and has led the Blue Devils to four, final four appearances. Coach Bozman was head coach at Princeton for 15 years and recruited Maren Ford from Cape. Duke opened the season ranked No. 4, but they were shocked in their opener losing to the unranked Bobcats of Ohio University 2-1.
Cape has a home football scrimmage at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 1. Don’t go into the dirt pile!
