HOVERCRAFT - I resist being the old guy sinking into grouchiness because I understand the trap, so I stay positive on young people because they are the future that I will exit. I’m OK with the Circle Be Unbroken spiritual song of life, but as I prepare for the Oct. 20 Buddy Walk in Rehoboth, on what Gov. Minner has declared Down Syndrome Awareness Day, I’m aware that my grandson, Davey, 4 years old, who has Down Syndrome, is a long shot to make Athlete of the Week, even though his grandfather is the sports editor.
The parent trap that lots of coaches of all sports from different schools are talking about - a new term is helicopter parents - are parents with great kids talented in academics and sports who are never satisfied unless it is all about their kid. How self-destructive and tragic to be miserable in the face of success and God’s gifts. Kids are great, and if they are that smart and wonderful they also realize when a parent is off the hook.
The entire learning experience about being on a team is to bond together for a common goal and if any athlete thinks a team sport is about them that is tragic and a terrible life lesson.
TOM FINNEGAN – Legendary Big 5 announcer Les Keiter had an expression, “In Again, Out Again Finnegan” to describe a basketball shot that was in and then out. Cape girls basketball coach Tom Finnegan - has a nicer guy ever coached a Cape sports team? - will step down after four years because of what Tom described as serious medical complications.
Coach Finnegan wrote to me: “I would like to thank the Cape community for affording me the opportunity to coach the last four years and hope our paths will join again in the future. I would also like to thank you for the support you had given to the girls and me during my tenure at Cape.”
Coach Finn put together a good run of four straight winning seasons and three Henlopen Conference crowns and managed a series of great point guards in Brittany Reid, Shaquanna Cannon and Tia Felton. Sam Purple was a stalwart four-year player for Finnegan.
Anyone wishing to write to coach Tom Finnegan can email him at Tfinne@aol.com. No word on a new coach, but I can say that Ralph Bayko has removed his name from consideration.
ELAYER - The new turf field, or is that field turf, at Legends Stadium is scheduled to be delivered to Cape in “ready to rumble” completeness on Oct. 17. The underlying “elayer” is being laid down a quadrant at a time. It is cryogenic crushed rubber, according to Cape principal John Yore who admitted he only starts projects at his own house but seeks professional help to finish them.
SNIPPETS - Tim Halloran is program coordinator for an instructional baseball program held every Tuesday and Thursday night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. through October at the Little League park in Lewes. The program is open to all athletes regardless of hometowns. Detailed information can be obtained at the website ProFormancebase ball.com, or call Tim at 302-258-4328.
Delaware State University will host Bethune Cookman at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night, Oct. 4, with the game being telecast on the ESPNU network. There has been recent discussion about why the University of Delaware won’t play Delaware State with the Hens being “locked up” on the scheduling through 2011. But there is a way for them to play and that’s for the Hornets to run the table, win the MEAC and then meet Delaware in the playoffs.
Delaware (4-0) will host Monmouth University this Saturday night, Sept. 29, and, quite frankly, if I’m a Blue Hen starter I am looking right past Monmouth to New Hampshire - the first real challenge on the Blue Hen schedule.
Amanda Warrington of Lewes is a captain for the University of Delaware field hockey team (8-2) which is currently ranked No. 18 in the country. Amanda has three goals and four assists on the season, while Cape grad Nikki Rhoades starts in the goal where she averages 1.1 goals allowed. Delaware will play No. 15 Duke at 1 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Rullo Field. Duke is coached by Beth Bozman, a longtime summer resident of Rehoboth.
Division II Bloomsburg’s field hockey team, with freshman Amanda Deloy of Cape in the starting lineup, fell to No. 3 in the national poll after suffering a surprising loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania two weeks ago.
The Cape volleyball team is quietly creeping to the top of the Henlopen charts after a 3-2 win at Dover. The girls are 5-2 on the season and undefeated in the conference. The junior varsity also defeated Dover raising its record to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the conference. I couldn’t find the varsity stats not even with two advanced placement statistics classes, but here are the junior varsity highlights: sophomores - Alicia Vicker, 9 aces; Michelle Norton, 1 kill; Tricia Conlon, 1 assist. Freshmen - Johnesha Warren, 2 kills; Jackie Warner, 2 kills; Danielle Marsico, 3 aces; Caitlin Wood, 1 kill; Kearstin Chapman, 1 kill; and Cheyenne Geyer, 1 kill.
I am not afraid of much so I raise this question that if a grown man is in the process of becoming a grown woman and goes to the beach or runs in a race, what is the acceptable action wear without getting all legalistic? Years ago Lewes instituted a “no shirtless” men on the streets ordinance and openly admitted it was because of the unsightly torsos and uneven tan lines paraded about by grossly fat jelly belly guys. Needless to say none of them came loose claiming discrimination.
