In the end, it's all a head game

I tried to interview sophomore Dan Steele after last Saturday’s state lacrosse championship, but after a few stupid questions at which Dan only smiled, he was attacked by his oldest brother, Scott, and his mother, Jan, and I was reminded that it was just 10 years ago that Scott Steele was an All-State midfielder who helped Cape win its first state tile with a perfect 19-0 record in 1998. I saw Don Steele, the dad, who looked at me and laughed saying, “Now my life is complete.”

And there was a grandmother who said, “I really enjoy your columns, especially when you write about my grandsons.”

SPENCE ALONG THE FENCE - The Steve Spences were along the fence last Saturday night. Steve the son, a goalie on two consecutive Cape state championship teams in 2001 and 2002, and Steve the father, so many years active in Atlantic lacrosse, were just taking it all in.

“This is the biggest adrenaline rush I get in my entire life, which is why I stay involved,” said Steve the Elder. “I cannot duplicate this level of excitement on the golf course.”

LINGO LOOKS BACK - “I watched the tape yesterday of Sallies beating us in 1995 for the state championship,” assistant coach Jack Lingo said after the Vikings defeated Sallies for the 2008 state championship. “I can tell you it feels extra special beating these guys for the title.”

“You don’t have to tell me, Jack,” I replied “My boys were in that war!”

IT’S ONLY A GAME - Someone remarked to a Cape fan leaving the stadium last Saturday night, “Relax, it’s only a game,” to which the fan replied, “It’s only a game if you lose. If you win it’s a state championship.”

MOHAWK HAIR - If you want to run the risk of looking really stupid shave your head into a Mohawk for a championship game and then lose. You will be the dumbest looking Mohawk haircut wearing person in the history of sports. Cape went Mohawk in 2006 against Tatnall and again in 2008 against Sallies, both games in which they were the underdog. You athletes who don’t know they are supposed to lose and are coached to win usually win more than they lose. I guess in the end it is a head game.

AMBER ALERT - Joakim Noah, who led the Florida Gators to a pair of national basketball championships, was arrested in Gainesville for drinking an Amber beer from a plastic cup while standing on the sidewalk a violation of the open container law - but aren’t all cups open all the time? Noah was taken to the police station and a search revealed a small amount of marijuana in his pocket. Noah’s parents - Yannick Noah, French Open tennis champion in 1983, and his mother, Cécilia Rhode, Miss Sweden 1978 - have threatened to ground their son who calls himself the African Viking and take his car keys.

AWARKWARD PLACE - Two Cape lacrosse players who were starters were dismissed from the team just prior to the state tournament for violation of team rules and that decision was made at the team level.

Some who know the story may think the athletes got what they deserved for going stupid and overriding all good judgments and values they have been taught. The team went 15-1 with these athletes in the lineup and then they watched as their teammates won a state championship without them.

I just feel bad about this situation and, believe me, I can relate to it at so many levels. I know about five adults whom I put off teams I coached and who now are middle-aged and fathers. We are friends today and I love these guys and we respect each other and the history we share. They are good dads who understand that learning the hard way is a lasting lesson.

SNIPPETS - The Sheehy twins, who are in the Council Rock School District in Newtown, Pa., enter the column via the relative waiver. Their mother is Maura Coveleski and the girls attended the game with uncle Tommy.

Salisbury University beat SUNY Cortland 19-13 to win their eighth Division III national championship. Coach Jim Berkmen is the all time winningest coach in NCAA lacrosse history. And what former Cape athlete was a team captain for Salisbury lacrosse and played for Coach Berkmen? I believe it was that one Tony Sposato. That’s right, the landscape guy.