Let sleeping teens lie about during player introductions
School spirit and silliness - The Polytech student section, boys and girls clad in white T-shirts and red Santa hats, were off the chain Thursday night, and I found them inspiring. I wanted to go out and play myself, maybe a game of HORSE, although I’m more conditioned for PIG. When Athletic Director Pat Gallucci introduced the Cape starting lineup, the pocket of Polys pretended to fall asleep. Gallucci lowered the microphone and told them, “We don’t do that,” but it was too late; they were committed to dozing through five starters. And the “I believe that we will win” cheer is just the best; if it’s good for the Naval Academy it's good for everyone. Back around 1985, Cape had the Baseline Bums on one side of the gym and the barking dog pound on the other side. Cape adopted a “no barking" rule at games but it's easy to bark then look easily innocent and impossible not to bark after a blocked shot or dunk. It all makes as much sense as clapping without clackers.
Verbal commitment - Cape juniors Tess Bernheimer and Lizzie Frederick, the best of friends, have verbally committed to Division I college programs. That takes each off the recruiting grid. Tess has committed to Drexel University to play field hockey while Lizzie has committed to Temple University to play lacrosse. Statistically, only 2 percent of high school players in field hockey or lacrosse ever see Division I scholarship monies. The NCAA prohibits colleges from announcing or commenting on verbal or early commitments until signing day in the fall of the senior year, but trust me, it is locked up. Athletes sometimes de-commit, but colleges rarely do; it's bad for their reputation to promise a student-athlete a scholarship and roster spot then later change their mind.
Cape wrestling - Cape wrestling won at Caesar Rodney Thursday night for the first time in 25 years and maybe the first time ever in back-to-back years. Scholastic wrestling is the toughest of sports; it’s a long season filled with so many personal one-on-one battles, and it’s a sport where you can lose and still win for your team by staying off your back and not getting pinned. I have nothing but respect for any athlete who wrestles, and needless to say it’s really hard on parents.
Sporting dogs - Does owning a sporting dog make you a coach? We live in the land of labs and lap dogs and I think owners are closer to coaches than parents. We’ve all heard the question pitched at the vet’s office, “Are you Darby’s daddy?” “Not exactly, he’s my dog, that’s all.” My overriding questions: “Is your dog worth the dog hair? If your dog fouls the rug or chews off the leg of an antique table, should you take him to the pound?” I think for the most part dogs own us and are a bad investment, so why do we keep getting new ones?
Local NFL teams - Eagles and Washington are out of the playoffs. The Ravens must beat Cleveland and hope San Diego loses to Kansas City. All New York teams are out - the Jets, Giants and Bills. Teams with a deep local fan base who are in the playoff include the Cowboys and Steelers.
Coach Drass - Wesley coach Mike Drass came to Cape last Friday. I ran into him in the office, picked myself back up and he said, “Hi, Mr. Frederick.” I tried to chat him up about the 70-21 Wesley loss at Mt. Union a week earlier but he was having none of it. Then that same night I watched Wisconsin Whitewater beat Mt. Union 43-34 for the Division III National Championship. It’s disconcerting when a team that dropped 70 unanswered points on you before you scored goes out the next week and gets beat.
Snippets - The dreaded Year in Review sports stories are on the horizon, only trumped by sports figures who died in 2014. I follow the advice of pitcher Satchel Paige, who lived to be 76. “Don’t look back; something may be gaining on you.” Paige also perfected his B pitch, so named because “It always BE where I want it to be.” Same with me. If you see me anywhere it’s only because it’s where I want to be. Go on now, git!
