Simpson belongs in jail because he is truly dangerous

High school kids rarely use the word crazy or even insane, preferring a phrase like, “O.J. Simpson is straight-up mental.” That’s why 13 years ago when the white Bronco, slow-crawl getaway car chase ushered in the era of helicopter journalism and no-talent talk shows (See Greta), athletic men and contemporaries of this gifted football and track athlete were absolutely shocked.

We never contemplated that Simpson walked in a world where his success brought him privilege, but The Juice was also confused like Michael Jackson or even Wayne Williams, seeing himself as operating in two cultural worlds and belonging to neither.

Most of us negotiate and don’t try to assimilate ourselves into social cliques where we will never fit.

The latest Simpson guilty of all charges on that sports memorabilia robbery is just insane. Simpson belongs in jail because he truly is dangerous, but there is overwhelming evidence that, as a running back who rushed for 2,000 yards in only 12 NFL games, he took too many hits to the head, which for me would be one.

DARK SIDE - I went to the dark side a few columns ago taking the position that if I were coaching a middle school sports team I’d play to win before worrying about development and participation. I did it to contrast the early season approach of Beacon soccer coach John Myers, who emptied his bench and experienced the flak of parental howitzer fire.

Myers understands me and realized I was focusing an argument where contrasted coaching styles just never dovetail. I have other dark side positions, and if they generate sports discussions in the community I will represent!

HONORS COACHING - I told my three sons, “Always coach the kid with the least ability as hard as you coach the one with the most talent.” But then I added, “That is not your dad. Give me the best and I’ll make them better. I can push talent to the next level but I don’t know how to lift the fundamentally weak off the ground.”

And so for sake of argument, academic exclusive programs like Honors and Advanced Placement and the dreaded Academic Challenge are good things, but creating that same exclusive club for sports is bad? Allow the academics to be infiltrated by the remedial among us before arguing what sports should be all about.

SAYS WHO? - A favorite lead-in line of mine when someone makes the mistake of handing me a microphone at a sports banquet is, “Those who say academics are more important than sports are usually the people who can’t play anything.” Silence usually follows and I add, “It’s not up to us to tell kids what is more important but rather we should emphasize to them that all of us should play the talent cards we’ve been dealt because knowledge and smarts are always preferable to ignorance and a creeping case of the stupids.”

BAND SPASM - Parents Day at Delaware State University last Saturday and I sat on the home team bench at halftime when a live performance of Drum Major broke out right in front of me. The Hampton University band was rocking and I was reeling. I powered to the upright position because words could not describe the energy and creativity, the brass and drums and dancing girls and dancing tuba players - and it kept ramping up and escalating with more energy than any football game could summon.

And then Delaware State took the field and was not outdone. And it was band members who were wearing T-shirts “Go Hard or Go Home” under their uniforms.

Delaware State lost to Hampton 17-14 breaking a streak of 10 straight home wins against MEAC opponents and dropping to 1-3 on the season.

Meanwhile, up in Massachusetts the University of Delaware was losing to the Minutemen, falling to 2-3. A postseason rematch between Delaware’s two teams seems unlikely this season. Delaware State led their game 7-6 after a 51-yard touchdown run by quarterback Vashon Winton. The Hornets forged ahead a second time 14-9 on a six-yard touchdown pass from Winton to tight end Jahmel Bashir. Hampton scored the final touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Herbert Bynes to Justin Brown to win 17-14. The Pirates are 3-1 on the season and their marching band never loses.

SNIPPETS - Police paddy wagons were booming the message and football fans with nasty attitudes and beer headaches left the Link last Sunday after being pounded by the Redskins. The Phillies beat Milwaukee 6-2! Pat Burrell hit two home runs! Phillies win!

The Cape volleyball team lost for the first time this season at Sussex Central last Friday 3-1 after winning a dozen in a row to start the season. The junior varsity won its match 2-0 to go 7-1 on the season.

Soccer played to a scoreless tie versus Sussex Central in a game that took two overtimes, while Cape hockey remained unblemished with a 3-0 win at Polytech.

Time to rock and roll on outta here; I only wish it were forever halftime of my life. Yes, I like my sausage hot! Six dollars?