Dragging a chain up and down the football sidelines is potentially perilous
Double-leg takedown - I can’t get air, but I don’t need oxygen. I had just limped onto the Smyrna sidelines Nov. 6, when Captain Chain Gang said to me, “It’s nice that you are going to take pictures, but you have to move back.” And so I did, just as a chain crew guys behind me passed one on my left and the other on my right and the chain across my Achilles tendons. I just stood there ready for my ambulance ride and reattachment surgeries performed by rookies on call at Kent General Hospital.
Slowly the zealots of the Smyrna sidelines backed up, one joking, “You could have jumped.” I almost said, “So could your mom,” which would have made no sense and would make me seem like the grouchy guy. But that would have been a classic career-ending sideline injury and a forever funny story to tell at Thanksgiving.
Let’s stay together - This is the recruiting season for middle school students and everyone in public school districts knows the deal from Cape up to Milford over to Seaford and down to Delmar and all points in between.
Specialty schools are coming for your best and brightest and most athletically talented, which is cool, that’s the way the system works. Choice is always good, which is why 167 people are running for president of the United States. I’m not even thinking of (the Mariner Middle School or Beacon Academy) kids heading west on the two-lane blacktop roads, but places like Millsboro Middle are currently loaded with talent in all sports.
Some insiders tell me their kids are poached like Blue Chip prospects on a recruiting top 100 list. Just energetically sell your own programs and schools, but play Al Green in between classes. It’s a parent’s decision, but actually the student should hold the hammer.
Rankings and seedings mean nothing - Anyone notice that Conrad, the 24th seed in the DIAA Volleyball tournament, is still playing after beating No. 9 Cape and No. 8 Polytech, both in straight sets? Over the years I have overheard athletes on a top-ranked team say after a loss, “How did we lose? We’re ranked No. 1 and they’re not even ranked.” And that’s because rankings and seedings count for zero once the game starts. I heard a big old sideline dad recently scream out onto the pitch, “Let’s go! How bad do you want it?” “Not as much as you want that pizza after the game, you big old rascal.”
Snippets - Salisbury beat Wesley Nov. 7 38-35, as Jerome Johnson (Cape) had 86 yards rushing and 71 receiving yards. Shane Marvel (Sussex Tech) had 10 tackles for the Gulls. This is the first time since Oct. 30, 2004, that Salisbury has beaten Wesley. Johnson, also a lacrosse midfielder in high school, and Marvel, a high school baseball player, are both stalwart student-athletes, just high-character good guys. They don't come any better than those two young men.
The University of Delaware field hockey team will play Virginia at 11:30 a.m., this Saturday at Virginia’s University Hall Turf Field in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Jacki Coveleski and Maggie Delp (Cape) are in the show. Virginia beat Delaware at Rullo Stadium Oct. 18 3-2 in overtime. Delaware (16-5) earned a spot in the tournament by beating James Madison 2-1 in overtime for the CAA title. UMass field hockey (11-8), the Atlantic 10 champions (Izzie Delario, Cape), will host the Golden Flashes of Kent State Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. Delario had a goal and three assists in the A10 tournament.
I’m not done with local connections. The University of Michigan received an at-large bid and will play Wake Forest at University of North Carolina at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 14. The final four will be hosted by Michigan. Ryan Langford is an assistant coach for the Wolverines and is married to Maren Ford of Lewes, who is the daughter of former Mayor Jim and Teresa, owner of Kids' Ketch, and sister to Jake. They have a son Silas and daughter Reese. Michigan is local for the next two weeks. Cape hockey opens the DIAA state tournament at home at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11, hosting the Brandywine Bulldogs, coached by Willie Miranda. Soccer plays Sussex Tech at Milford at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14. Cable or Dish, it is showtime, baby!
Go on now, git!
