Dean of Delaware Distance Running Doug White dies at 74

Running machine - Grand Mom Rose would say of husband Frank’s shiny Studebaker in the driveway, “Poppy got a new machine.” The Dean of Delaware Distance Running Doug White died at 74 years old Dec. 15 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage the Monday before. Doug was a running machine who restored old machines, like his 1933 Chevy Sedan and 1941 Willys Coupe. He was a Delaware Sports Hall of Fame runner training toward his 44th consecutive Boston Marathon. Running was what Doug chose to do; it got him out among the sea of people who also pursued the sport as a means to fitness. Delaware runners form a broad social network of athletes who know and support each other. Racing reveals character, and certainly there is a kaleidoscope of characters who flow in and out of the scene with Doug White always at the center. He was an accessible muppet here at Sesame Street by the Sea, The “Doug-White” was always available to help or “cut you up” if you took things too seriously.

Fitness legends like Doug are not supposed to suddenly drop from the race and leave the pack; all of his running friends are asking “What happened?” looking for an explanation. Take the top 10 contributing factors leading to stroke and throw out all the poor lifestyle choices in Doug’s case, factors like obesity, lack of physical activity and smoking. Doug won the inaugural 1977 Lewes Marathon, besting a field 67 runners, including me, who at 3:38 was a cool nine miles behind him at 2:35. Last year, Doug saved me a seat on “his bus” going to Boston. He told me what a great time I’d have talking pictures: “You’ll love it,” he said. The guy who beat me by nine miles 40 years earlier saved me a seat on his marathon bus, legitimizing me as part of the running scene. All of Doug’s runs were good runs, and he had a long run at life, but not long enough - we want him back! Godspeed, Doug!

Pop pass - Conservative play calling coaches consider the pop pass adventurous because it’s always available but risky – it’s like a 3-yard handoff through defensive clutter. The Eagles elected a pop pass two-point conversion over a one–point kick and go to overtime, but the ball never got to the receiver as the Birds lost to the Ravens Sunday 27-26. Going for two points to win the game at the end is like putting one egg in a big basket then throwing it against the wall. The correct call is the one that works; all other plays on the laminated and color-coded game plan chart are wrong. Tough season, but the real Philly fans hang tough and earn their wings every Sunday, Monday and Thursday night.   

Two for one - I like two people in a photo over one, it’s just twice as likely to tell a story. I snagged a few classics at the Dec. 16 basketball game, which included two JV players named after countries, Australia Mackey and Ziyear Brittingham; two Cape legends past, Dominique Thomas and Donsha McCray; track coach Ellis Gaulden and his son Kaiden; and former Indian River player Marvin Phillips and coach Gene Harris. Harris was an assistant at IR seated next to Pat Kelly when Phillips played circa 1989.   

Does that make me crazy? - You don’t have to sing like Gnarls Barkley to comprehend the Beast of the East weekend wrestling tournament with 110 teams invited to the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center. It’s the best tournament in the country hosted inside a college venue that dropped varsity wrestling years ago. That seems a bit incongruous, but that’s the way the cradle crumbles. Sussex Central won the Governor’s Trophy as Delaware’s top team finisher with 49 points, edging out Cape with 47 and Smyrna with 41. Tony Wuest of Smyrna, a junior, was Delaware’s top finisher, grabbing third place at 195 pounds. Last year, Wuest broke his wrist in the semifinals of the state tournament. Cape and Sussex Central will see each other at the Battle of the Beach tournament at Indian River beginning Friday, Dec. 30. 

Snippets - The Sussex Academy Seahawks’ new swimming pool is filled with water and operational, as both the boys’ and girls’ teams are 3-0 with a Tuesday home meet versus Indian River scheduled. The new aquatic center will host the Henlopen Conference Championships Saturday, Feb. 11. Sarah Rambo is back and fully cleared for swimming after ACL surgery last spring. Katie Frederick, who was injured during hockey season, is three weeks past ACL surgery. K-Fred was at last Friday night’s basketball game with no brace, running up into the bleachers to greet her friends. The right surgeon and rehabilitation management are crucial to getting the athlete back into competitive shape. Logan Shuttleworth has missed the last two basketball games with a meniscus issue, but I’m no doctor, I couldn’t afford the stamps – Nova University joke. There are two menisci in each knee, they are cushions, different from ligaments, which strap the knee in place for stability. We can talk about knees all day, but who is listening? Grand Mom Rose: “Don’t give a fat person a scale for Christmas - just don’t!” Go on now, git!