I was the worst football official in the history of the world

Dick Vermeil is 72 years old and still as unrelentingly energetic as he was when he led the Eagles into the Super Bowl in 1980. Vermeil was also the head coach of the Rams team that won the Super Bowl in 1999. Vermeil and a host of honored Eagles, including his old buddy Vince Papale, were part of the pre-game NFL opening day ceremonies last Sunday in Philadelphia.

I watched Vermeil take his place holding an American flag that covered the entire 100-yard football field. Coach was into it shaking the cloth like a giant blanket and my guess is that he was crying, overcome by the patriotism of the moment. Papale is now 60 years old and played for the Eagles from 1976 through 1978.

THE HARDEST JOB - I have played in, coached and reported on thousands of football games. I refereed just one, at the junior high level, coaxed out of my truck so the kids could play.

Barry Lynch was the other victim that weekday afternoon as Lewes hosted Selbyville. Lewes lost because of us - it was all our fault - and the promise not to criticize and berate us went right out the window. Lynch was even accused of being biased for the Selbyville Green because he lived in Roxana.

Last Friday night’s Indian River at Cape game saw lots of flags flying.

No one with a vested interest was happy after the game and, perhaps, without the benefit of video replay, actual mistakes were made. But I don’t believe that any official for any sport is consciously biased for one team over the other or that they simply have “never liked us and you know it.”

And I don’t know if Laquan Hazzard fumbled a football into his own end zone late in the fourth quarter after “breaking the plane” and essentially ending the play, but fumbling the ball near the goal line rarely results in a positive outcome. By the way, I was the worse football official in the history of the world but I was fair.

SOFT SIDE OF ANDY REID - “Young Larry” as he is known in my wife’s family is a 42-year sportswriter for the Allentown Morning Call. Larry O’Rourke is my wife’s cousin which makes me his cousin in Irish lineage. He is a lifelong bachelor and just the greatest guy who revels in telling stories of him and his buddies and their golfing outings and “knock-about-town” behaviors afterwards.

Less than a year ago Young Larry was diagnosed with ALS. Larry wrote to his friends to please treat him the same so Larry could be the same. Andy Reid gave Larry parking space No. 1 for preseason and the regular season and had provided him with a golf cart if necessary. Andy seeks out Larry all the time and is concerned with the young sportswriter who shares his world. Andy and Larry are both good guys so nothing had changed.

You know the Philly press beat up on Reid when his boys got into legal troubles and that was just so low class. If you are an Eagles fan you can be proud that Andy Reid is the head coach of your team.

WORKING PRESS - I sat in the center section of new Cape press box last Friday night not because I’m afraid of rain, but pens and pencils don’t work when wet. And then my pen exploded and blue stuff was spreading everywhere.

I cell phoned principal John Yore who sent Ed Hayes with an industrial cleaner and everyone thought it was great that the only actual media person in a crowded box was behaving like he didn’t belong there. I cleaned my hands with an astringent used for metal and it’s a wonder I didn’t end up an episode on Take it to the House!

IF ANYBODY CARES - I heard repeated Phillies updates throughout the Eagles press box last Sunday afternoon and they were always followed by “If anybody cares.” There are 19 games remaining for the Phillies after leaving Shea Stadium on Sunday. They are two games behind the Mets if anybody cares.

SNIPPETS - I understand there are sports beyond football that are equally as important and take just as much time except for field hockey which goes by fast.

The home volleyball followed by soccer doubleheader including junior varsity begins at 4 p.m. for junior varsity volleyball and ends with varsity soccer sometimes after 10 p.m.

Cape soccer plays at Indian River on Tuesday night in an early season showdown. If you are there and are not a coach or related to a player you need to write and tell my why so I can arrange a honorary fan certificate for you.

Randy Moss was beading his hair during a post-game press conference last Sunday and that would be it for me. I’d never talk to that guy!

A quick word to owners of sporting dogs: If your dog has a hot spot get them to a vet and don’t do home remedies because those spots spread and get nasty real fast.

What is up with those hard plastic megaphone collars that prevent dogs from kicking their own heads?

Darby dog looked like a nasty cheerleader banned from the Westminster dog show.

Thanks to Rehoboth Animal Hospital for getting him right.