One gallon donor blood or money

One Gallon Donor - Not to be negative but I am the universal donor- O negative- and if the Blood Bank calls I donate, but walking out of the Elks Lodge at 5 p.m. can ruin a bad reputation. “Honest, I was donating blood.” I was recently struck by a gift made to the new Temple University field hockey and lacrosse fields and complex by former player Cherifa Howarth and her husband Greg in the amount of $500,000. Howarth Field is the name for the new hockey field, which by the way will host the Big East Tournament this fall. Have you ever not answered the photo when your college calls wanting you to renew your $25 donation? Nah, me either.

Stop tripping - I know something about little people who run in 5K races, having done the circuit years ago, and that is they are dangerous. Anyone under 13 focused enough to run a 5K on a hot day with a sidelined parent screaming “Pick it up! You know you can beat that guy!” will drop you if you get in their way. The kid will weave in front of you to slow you down, and if you trip and fall, they will not turn around. Stay clear of those little rascals, they are heartless. 

Kayak-ak-ak - Many people not only purchase kayaks but a few actually take them off the roofs of their cars and put them in the water and paddle. I got this message Thursday morning from Dan MacElrevey: “I will be paddling [kayak] with a man named Josh Collins today and tomorrow. Josh is a special forces veteran who is paddling [paddleboard] from Texas to New York on the first leg of a circumnavigation of the world, solo and unassisted by small boat. He is raising funds for a group that provides assistance and recovery for veterans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. I met Josh and his wife last year during a kayak expedition/race, and they are both very special people and share a wonderful story of love and strength.” Check out Josh's web page www.veteranvoyage360.com.

Smart and stupid - My brother Tom and I suffer from the dumbest of syndromes called “too dumb to drink water.” We discovered this independently. We can go all day. It has something to do with water being as boring as a plain donut. Runner’s World Magazine published a heat alert guide back in the 1970s that said, “If the temperature and humidity add up to over 160, don’t train and don’t race. And if you see spots and are not scanning a reading primer from the 1950s (see Spot run) get in the shade, find a hose, drink from the nozzle and squirt it in your face and on the back of your neck.” 

Dropping the torch - Athletes don’t pass the torch, they drop it and run to the next venue. The amazing backdrop of five straight Cape field hockey state championships can be analyzed six ways from Sunday, and they don’t call me Mr. Field Hockey for nothing. The character and competitiveness of the athletes on the field is what gets it done, and there have been some extraordinary players who have shown up fit and ready to rock your world over those championship years. Cape graduated seven starting seniors and right now in early July my check engine light is blinking because nothing matters but high school, the great equalizer of sports. Travel trophies count for nothing. Cape is a place to hang banners. I’m looking for a pack of junkyard dogs, and, right now, I’m not feeling it. 

Blown opportunities - Don’t leave any of your game on their field or am I supposed to leave it all out there? I’m confused, but I know in sports blown opportunities are gone like yesterday’s weather. You don’t get them back, and often they cling to you for a lifetime. And so you move on to occasionally lament that you didn’t try harder when you had a chance to excel. I think all athletes carry some of that in their life travels. For me, it takes two of those suitcases on wheels.

Snippets - The Phillies have won nine of last 12 games and have suckered me back inside the fan circle. I don’t care where Kevin Durant plays basketball; all professional athletes are loyalless free agents and so are fans. The business is exploiting everyone with five high-definition televisions and a $300 a month cable bill. Go on now, git!