RACE CARD - “Don’t make academic points to an audience of concrete thinkers,” my grandmother used to say. “If you’re smart enough to be analytical then figure out that basic axiom and don’t climb the ladder of intellect with a chowder head holding the base.”
Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles is a smart guy, educated and well spoken and possessing all the right values of leadership and integrity. Yet when James Brown - not the singer - of HBO, himself a Harvard graduate, asked Donovan about being a black quarterback, the man who Philly fans have known for nine years expressed his opinion calmly and intelligently saying he felt he was judged more harshly.
Bret Favre are two words that cause me to agree with McNabb. The media loves Favre so much - glamorizing his every throw and escape - that I am starting to hate him for absolutely no good reason. Two years ago when Mcabb was “going bad” on the field, I heard fans in the parking lot tossing race cards like a game of 52 pickup. I would never tell a man what’s it’s like to be him because just maybe he knows better than me. And isn’t it ironic after getting booed by some fans - they should have been beat down by those fans who protect the house - Donovan makes a first-quarter star out of Kevin Curtis, hitting the Utah State graduate for three touchdown passes as Curtis sets a career game mark in only one quarter of action. Wasn’t that just so ironic that the “white boy” possession receiver who runs precise routes was going Jacques Cousteau on the Lions secondary, beating them deep and hanging them out to dry.
RADIO MAN - I don’t need to be on no radio, yo, but when Anthony Joseph of WGMD asked me to come on at halftime of the Cape versus Milford game I said yes because it helps a young person doing a good thing and I’m smart enough not to over analyze things I don’t understand. I did tell several people on my way to the booth - “can’t they get nobody but you Fredman?” - that I felt Cape, although trailing 25-7 would come back and win the game. And late in the game, standing on the sidelines, I told anyone who wanted to hear me instead of coach Petey Hazzard hanging over the fence, that if I were coaching Milford with under four minutes to play I’m in four down territory from my own 8 because Cape had gone to crazy land and I would not punt them the football.
And so Milford - with a third and one at the 36 - I’m running QBS with an uncovered center and 6-foot-2 quarterback - and I’m running it twice if I have to - runs wide off tackle and Zack Wood tackles the back for a three- yard loss. Milford punts to the Cape 15 with 2:20 to play and Max Coveleski turns into John Elway with heroic runs and passes engineering a game-winning drive.
Coach Mike Tkach of Milford is a great guy who brought “Tkach Pack” school-wide enthusiasm to the Buccaneer football program. He puts it out there every Friday night unlike Petey and me. Second-guessing works like this: something doesn’t work - “I definitely wouldn’t have done that.”
SNIPPETS - Mike LaPenta, former Salesianum and St. Thomas More basketball coach, has earned the title of Mr. Golf for his four-day stroke play net score in a recent tournament held in Florida.
The golfing party consisted of 8 hackers (Joe Crispin, Ron Scrutchfield, Dave Jones, Joe Reed, Gerry Desmond, Robert Murray and Vinnie Ingato) mostly from Lewes. Mike will hold this title until next September at which time he will attempt to defend it or elect to play pickup basketball on his home court with a colorful crew of players who just won’t give it up.
I asked lifetime player Billy Bright if guys with no ups in their 30s could lead an index card beyond fifty. “I can say that Greg Skoglund is as good as he ever was,” Billy joked.
The local Cape dart league is in need of players to round out some new teams and what better sport to settle your shaky nerves. Call Charlie Gouert at 381-2833 if you would like to join or have any questions about anything not metaphysical. Personally, I love the dart people - they even have their own bus line if you must drink irresponsibly while playing.
The JV volleyball team of Coach Pat Niland won their match last week against Sussex Central winning the first game, 25-14, losing the second game, 15-25, then literally battling back to win the third game 17-15. It was nose to nose to the bitter end of the third game. The highlights are: sophomores - Andrea Wells, 1 ace, 2 kills, 2 blocks, 2 assists; Michelle Norton, 1 ace, 2 kills; Tricia Conlan, 1 kill, 2 assists; Alicia Vickers, 2 aces, 1 kill.
Speaking of junior varsity and middle school results, if you find yourself sitting around and complaining about Fredman not caring about young athletes just send me an email with the information I should be caring about. I am at davefredman@comcast.net.
Signups for YBL basketball are now taking place at the YMCA in Rehoboth. Once again the popular girl’s league will return. Coaches also should check with James Botti to verify that your idea of reality is the same as his - or anyone’s for that matter. James can be reached at jbotti@ymcade.org.
The boy’s soccer team (1-3) lost at Seaford last Thursday 5-1 and travel to Milford on Tuesday Sept. 25 in desperate need of a win.
The volleyball team beat Sussex Central last Thursday raising their season record to 4-2.
Beacon Middle school had a big win in football beating Delmar 14-12.
I’m out! This dog needs some vitamin D.
