Cape Gazette's Fredman the Great

DUMB AND DUMBER - Head coaches Brian Billick of the Ravens and Andy Reid of the Eagles are being skewered by fans in the cities where they work but didn’t grow up.

Philadelphia is much worse than Baltimore, as fans support media types who take advantage of bad times by inflaming call-in losers and dragging them into the downward spiral of doom and depression.

Losing in Philly is good for business for WIP radio’s squawking heads and some notable writers, as well those who are afforded game credentials, parking passes, free food and access to players - all in the name of free speech and keeping it real.

The Ravens must deal with Ray Lewis questioning the play calling of the head coach. The last time Lewis orchestrated any play calling was obstructing justice at the 1999 Super Bowl where a street fight in Buckhead, Ga. left two dead on the street, a stretch Hummer shot full of holes and bloody clothes in a dumpster. How do you go from shackled guy to the guy second-guessing the coach - even if he is right and everyone agrees with him?

I’ve seen coach criticisms happen with high school players and, in some cases, parents who post comments on message boards and hide behind not-so-clever handles.

“You can’t trump ugly,” my gradmother used to say. “You can only ignore it!”

FLY OVERS - The NFL and Major League Baseball are private corporations that don’t share their profits with fans and enjoy all kinds of anti-trust protections which is why you don’t find any street people in a sky box - you find high rollers and politicians and the corporately connected.

So how come they get to order government jets - my jets - for formation flyovers synced to the conclusion of the national anthem? If it weren’t for sporting events we would never hear a song that is a less than rousing rendition of patriotism or get to witness flyovers.

I have ordered up a flyover straight down Rehoboth Avenue for the February Polar Plunge to benefit Delaware Special Olympics – don’t jump until you see the taillights! I’ll let you know how our jets are doing, who gets to order and whether we are in their delivery zone.

The weather will be bad and the ceiling low this Saturday at Navy for the Delaware game, otherwise you may see a flyover because the academy has connections. I saw a flyover there a few years ago that rattled the press box and a pilot looked and waved right at me and I screamed, “Watch where you’re going!”

HONORARY CAPTAINS - Five Maulls from the same family tree which was rooted on Fourth Street in Lewes have started at quarterback for Cape going back to 1975 when Gilbert Maull shared signal-calling duties with Rex Dickerson. Jay Maull came right on his heels and led Cape to the state title game in 1978. Then there was Lonnie in 1981 who shared some snaps with a younger Keith Donovan. Then the next generation - J.D. Maull 1995-96 - son of Janet, and Kai Maull, 1997, son of Gilbert and Amanda.

I think I’m right about these dates. The point is the sons and grandsons of old Joe Maull, the Cape fan you always knew was “in the house,” and his wife, Edie, all quarterbacked the Vikings. For homecoming at the new “Surf and Turf” Legends Stadium Friday night they will be honored - it doesn’t get any more family than that. It’s a great tribute to the African-American community and it isn’t even February. These players, who embody so much of the Cape family football tradition, will be introduced at the coin toss prior to Friday’s game versus Sussex Central.

I will get to rock the cordless mike, even though 10 years ago then-superintendent Suellen Skeen told everyone, “Never hand a microphone to Fredman ever again.”

I can name the 10 Maull siblings off the top of my head. There are Jackie, Janet and Cissy and boys Joe, Jerry, Julius, Gilbert, Jay, Lonnie and Tony. Don’t even get me started on the track connection.

SNIPPETS - Incoming Cape athletic director Bob Cilento was at last Tuesday night’s home soccer game with outgoing athletic director George Glenn. Bob is a great guy and very approachable, so give him a warm Cape welcome and wait a week before complaining about whatever is starred in your personal agenda book.

Speaking of agenda books and the contagious flu and cold and superbug season, if you were a teacher would you sign books that students carry with them all year and take to the bathroom every time they go? I always told them, “I ain’t signing that nasty book, just write my initials, FM on your radio dial.”

“What’s a radio dial?” was often the response.

Cape’s JV volleyball team beat Polytech 2-1 last Thursday, Oct. 18. The scores were: first game, 25-13; second game, 20-25; third game, 15-4. Their overall record of 10-2 (undefeated in the conference at 10-0) was improved to 11-0 with a win at Smyrna that came down to a 16-14 win in the deciding game. The junior varsity faced Caesar Rodney on Senior Night, Thursday, Oct. 25, with a chance to close out the conference schedule undefeated. Highlights from the Polytech match include: sophomores - Alicia Vickers, 7 aces; Andrea Wells, 5 kills, 2 aces; Tricia Conlan, 1 ace, 4 assists, 1 kill; Michelle Norton, 1 kill; freshmen - Caitlin Wood, 2 kills; Cheyenne Geyer, 2 aces, 1 kill; Charlotte Acklin, 2 kills, 1 assist; Kearstin Chapman, 3 aces, 1 assist; Danielle Marsico, 1 kill, 2 assists; Jackie Warner, 1 assist. The girls are coached by Pat Niland and Stan Iwamoto.

Sam Coveleski has started all 16 games for the Villanova Wildcats field hockey team and has scored two goals along with seven assists. The Cats, who play in the Big East, are currently 10-6 on the season and 3-3 in the Big East.

Last Oct. 20, visiting Duke defeated Delaware field hockey 5-3 at Rullo Stadium. Nikki Rhoades had seven saves for Delaware. Duke, ranked 10th in the country and coached by local summer resident Beth Bozman, improved to 11-6 on the season.

Tricia Meade is a redshirt freshman on the Towson University field hockey team.

Registration for youth basketball is now open at the YMCA. Call James Botti at 296-YMCA, or stop by the YMCA to sign up or volunteer. Sponsors for teams are still needed and it costs only $300 to get the positive feedback of seeing young kids miss layups with your name on their back.

Back in 1975 I gave a kid a track shirt that had my name on the back - Coach Frederick. Two days later my shirt was on the front page of the News Journal on the back of a work release prisoner pegging trash on the median strip on Route 113. Talk about self-promotion.