Playing one for the team is a novel way to help classmates
No debt for success - There is no I in team, but there is a me, and the goal is to win as long as “my dog” gets quality playing time. Here’s another way to come at the team concept inside a setting where everyone graduates from the same school. Is there ever a scenario when you should play a sport to help a team even though you would rather have the free time to do travel ball or simply work out where you will hear fewer character development speeches? I take you back to the spring of 2006 when Cape won a state championship in boys' lacrosse. They never would have won the title without soccer buddies Beau Pratt, Corey Schab, Mike Shook and Tommy Grogan. Those four played soccer year round until the pull of lacrosse was so strong, with teammates telling them, “You can really help us win a state title,” and they did. There are shut-it-down spring athletes who could really help the Cape track teams, but they don’t want to, electing free and me time over the motivation to “just do it” for the glory of good old Cape. The individual has the right to a centralized focus, but it’s hard to stay there when friends are asking for help.
Coach Coveleski - I remember coach Frank Coveleski as the Cape athletic director who appointed me head track coach before I ever met him. And the next summer, sitting on a Boardwalk bench, I told him, "I no longer want to coach football or be on the Rehoboth Beach Patrol.” Coach tapped me on the shoulder and said, “The kids need you around, and we all do; really, you’ll be fine.” And that was pretty much that, as it is for most athletes and coaches, but not everyone.
Who got game? And the bigger question for basketball players is, where to go to get game? Not on playgrounds, that is so old school; most “we got downs” venues are replaced by tennis courts, sand volleyball courts and now pickleball courts. Playground hoops were improvisational jazz; everyone’s game had an individualized style and you learned the language. I still see a player travel and I say “Take my dog,” which means “The next time you go for a walk, take my dog.”
Non-derailed badness - Lawrence Phillips, 40, a straight-up bad dude, was a star running back at Nebraska on 1994 and 1995 national championship teams. He just liked to beat people up, first his girlfriends and then he choked his cellmate to death last October. On Jan. 13, Phillips committed the ultimate act of violence, killing himself. Just a scary dude, should have shared a cell with Aaron Hernandez and Rae Carruth.
Four Seasons - Walk like a Fredman. Lately, I’m walking like a 1950s robot in a black-and-white science fiction movie. I reflected on which is my favorite season to cover and I honestly can’t pick one, although generally I’m happier to be outside where it’s less likely someone will notice if you leave early. I like it when a person writes to me and says, for example, “I know girls' soccer is not your thing,” which is not how I see it. Anywhere kids are playing is my thing. I just can no longer be everywhere and/or stay there once I arrive.
Snippets - College practices have begun for the sport of lacrosse, which starts playing games in February. Some locals on rosters include Cape players Sarah Tappan at Hofstra; Anna Frederick and Taylor Gooch at Temple; Kat Judge and Allie Yeager at Winthrop; Worcester Prep players Kristen Shriver at Winthrop and Lilly DiNardo at UVA; Molly Marshall, Meg Lingo and Sophie Brennan at Furman; Stephen Decatur's Ally Beck at St. Joe’s of Philly; Tower Hill's Sophie McCoy at North Carolina; Caesar Rodney's Megan Card and Nicole McCombs at Delaware State; and Indian River's Maggie Allison at Towson.
Mark D’Ambrogi will wear the head coach's hat for boys' lacrosse as Jack Lingo steps back to assistant. Cape boys' lacrosse has nine coaches, which also includes David Mushrush, Joe Cahill, Geoff Shupard, Nick Scroggs, Spencer Steele, Brad Bivins and James Ruback. Cape girls' lacrosse also has nine coaches but five are volunteer. George Pepper will return to coach the girls' track team. Pretty sure George goes back to 1977 because I was there. Sussex Tech boys' basketball is 0-9 on the season - the best game they played was a 73-72 home loss to Cape. People in the know say coach Brian McDermott is a good coach and great guy. Hope he survives. You know the difference between a seagull and a high school basketball fan? The fan will eat you alive (scavenger joke book). Go on now, git!
