Real deal Neil sings anthem then runs biathlon in same shirt

Real deal Neil - I first heard Neil Ewachiw sing the national anthem last September before the Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon. I concluded, “Well, that pretty much knocks everyone else I’ve ever heard out of the box. Where the heck did that guy come from?” There he was again on the Rehoboth Boardwalk Aug. 28, singing the anthem before the start of the Sundance running festival. This all came on the heels of the Colin Kaepernick controversy that no one talked about; they were too busy standing and being quiet. Then Neil dropped the mic, ran a half mile to the start of the biathlon, did the swim and run in 44:56 for 28th out of 60 athletes, all done without ever taking his shirt off. Neil is a member of the U.S. Army Band Chorus. He sang at the Reagan and Ford state funerals. He has a doctorate from Catholic University and teaches at Georgetown. Throw in Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Benedict XVI and a bunch of operas. He lives in Towson, Md.

Parents at practice - I know there’s a support group called Parents Without Partners, so why not an update, Parents at Practices. There’s an offshoot group, Dads in Pickup Trucks with Binoculars watching practice. But the best advice is stay away from practices unless you work for a newspaper or write a regular blog on the sport. It’s a tough call between solid support and, to use a crude expression the kids use on each other, “I’m glad my parents aren’t up my butt.” That will tell you that unrelenting appearances at practices are not only under-appreciated but also evidence of parental unemployment.  

What’s the word - It’s easy to curse and drop language bombs, and on many sports teams it’s common parlance among teammates. Restraint takes more discipline and makes a person tougher. I got most of that foulness out of my system by the end of sixth grade, although I’m still bilingual and I can bang with the boys if that’s the way everyone wants to talk. But honestly, the toughest athletes in competition, male and female, will roll over you then say a little prayer before picking you up. Language has nothing to do with being hard and tough.    

Athletes of the Week - Four Athletes of the Week for 24 years, and, in all modesty, I would say they are an example of stellar journalism – quick, succinct, witty and inspirational. Talking with young people and snapping their photos makes us all feel better about ourselves. I worked in schools for 35 years, and I know for a fact they do a poor job promoting their own kids. Finding a Student of the Month is an almost impossible task. The argument is everyone is just too busy. With all the new requirements, there is just not enough time.    

Coaching philosophy - I told my sons to always coach up the kid with the least ability as hard as you coach the kid with the most. But that wasn’t for me; I only coached the best people. I just had no patience for the football kid who could get in a stance but couldn’t get out. He sure needed to be coached, just by someone else. Part of coaching effectiveness is knowing your own weaknesses. Yes, of course, I’m not joking. But seriously, there should be a parade for all middle school coaches each June for their talents of combining patience with instruction and then going out and winning games.   

Snippets - The Lake Forest Invitational at Killens Pond is Saturday, Sept. 10. Fifteen teams will participate, including separate girls’ teams and junior varsity squads. College football on the flat-screen in the garage, the sound of gunfire in the distance as birdshot rains down on my roof, must be the opening of dove season. The hunting and waterfowl seasons are fun to track, and I don’t even hunt. Golden Retrievers are making a big comeback as a combination of hunting and family dogs, but why not the Chesapeake Bay Retriever? Because they are beastly hard-headed and don’t listen, but they can tear up a Great Marsh. Sports are a clearinghouse for issues, from decorum during the national anthem before the game to teams coming together for prayers after the game. The Major League Baseball postseason is shaping up to be awesome, bumping up against the suddenly mediocre NFL. Think I’ll send prayers up thanking God for the Redzone channel. And for me, training for a triathlon means learning to take crisp photos while sitting in a chair. The 2016 Rehoboth Beach Drag Volleyball game scheduled for Poodle Beach Sunday, Sept. 4 looks threatened by weather, what with all those wigs and makeup. Go on now, git!