Slams and swats, some fans come loose

Coming loose - Dec. 28, 2007, the Bay Ball Classic at Cape’s Little Big House, a game that featured Woodbridge versus Putnam City, Okla. Kyan Andrews, without warning, rose up from the paint and dunked on everybody, including their grandmothers. Fans and bench players, uncles and aunts, stormed the court like someone had thrown money down. The Putnam City coach told me, “I’ve seen plenty of dunks, but I never saw fans storm the court afterward. I just stood there and watched like everyone else.” On Feb. 2, during the closeout of a quarter, James Wells of Mariner trailed behind Kay’Von Allen of Beacon on a fast break. Wells flew high over the rim and smacked the ball against the glass, and it careened all the way back to half court. Some people came loose and stormed the court like, “What!? What!?” I’d say if you’re an adult, you shouldn’t be doing that, but basketball from the slam to the swat just produces those “Oh, no he didn’t!” moments.

Destiny’s Child - When the score condensed to a pair of 8s - call it crazy 8s - with under eight minutes left on the game clock, all the Falcons had to do was make a play. The two-point plays were already in the Patriots playbook - they had been practiced - the same with the winning touchdown run. No one flinched because everyone knew what was up. Tom Brady is the executioner surrounded by gamers and playmakers, but it was Josh McDaniel, the offensive coordinator, who orchestrated the comeback. If you are a man who hates Brady, then you are a girl. Lots of women don’t like Brady, maybe because their husbands can no longer fit into their triple XL nose tackle jerseys stained with spare-rib juice? I watched the game at home so I could actually watch it. It’s a totally non-political experience for me. Many haters are drawn to sports as fans, that’s how they rock and relate, but I found that if some athlete beats me and breaks my heart, I’m going to find them and shake their hand. Otherwise, what is the point of calling it sports?

Zebras - There should be Go Pro cameras on the hats of all NFL officials and they should be miked up. It is so fast and dangerous out there on the turf; it is like doing a traffic study while standing in the middle of a freeway. How refs don’t get plowed over or hit in the head with a crucial pass is beyond me. Every holding call I saw on replay was blatant and occurred in the open right in front of an official. Lotsa conspiracy theorists follow football, some screaming that it’s rigged, except the lowest-paid professionals on the field are the officials who have no incentive to influence outcomes. Now, the NBA is a different discussion.

Lilly Barnett - Mariner Middle School’s Lilly Barnett competed in the Main Line Slide at Lower Merion High School Feb. 4 and won the Junior Adaptive category with a 6:10 for 1K, which was a personal best by 20 seconds. Last year, she was world champion in the youth division. Heather Kenton was second in the open for lightweight women, as she posted a 7:29 for 2K, which was a personal best in competition. Fitness instructor Paul Timmons of The Firm Fitness Center won the men’s lightweight age group 2K for the fourth consecutive year with a time of 6:49.  

Snippets - Terrell Owens failed for the second time to clear the ballot and make it into the NFL Hall of Fame and so did Tony Boselli, a former Jacksonville Jaguar and the best left tackle ever to buckle up his chin strap. Boselli protected the blind side way before the book and the movie. T.O. rocked his narcissism, disrupting locker rooms long before everyone learned the meaning of that word. Boselli has dropped a bunch of weight and is doing triathlons - wonder if local Lance Fargo has run into him? Hard to get a handle on Owens, from his quest to become a professional bowler to his supposed financial problems to reports of depression and prescription painkiller overuse. It’s now month two of resolution new year. If anyone has a story to tell, please hit me up; otherwise, I’ll start talking about myself. Delaware men’s lacrosse lost a season opener at home to Bucknell 14-13. Delaware head coach Bob Shillinglaw announced Feb. 2 that he will retire after the 2017 season. Shillinglaw has been head coach at Delaware for 39 years. They should hire Mark D’Ambrogi and dial in the whole family Corrigan connection.