Special Olympics, Blue-Gold 5K highlight a weekend to reach out
Upside-down social life - I sleep at night and prowl in the morning; that is my social life. My happy hours begin at sunup and last all day, but as darkness creeps in, I slowly fade back to black. Special Olympics will be at the University of Delaware Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9. There is no venue more inspirational. There are no professional media types going up to a special athlete and starting a sentence with, '"Talk about your multiple impediments from physical limitations and cognitive disabilities to poor eyesight and how you still manage to roll a mean game of bocce ball.” And don 't say “It is what it is,” because “It is what you is”; we all have to step in and help because most of us were dealt better cards and have a better hand to play, so let's get's busy helping others. The rewards are astronomical just for being a good person.
Blue-Gold All-Star 5K at Irish Eyes - Calling all regular running peeps. Please get down to the ninth running of the Blue-Gold All-Star 5K on Anglers Road at Irish Eyes in Lewes at 8 a.m., Saturday June 9. There is also a short walk - or is that a long walk off a short pier? The race raises funds for the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with Intellectual disABILITIES (yes, it is screaming for a shorter title) and plugs right into the DFRC Blue-Gold High School All-Star Football Game and the Hand in Hand Buddy events held Saturday, June 16. I believe runners race to test themselves, get a T-shirt, maybe gnaw on some winged animals and possbily get a trophy. Your entry here goes straight to the DRFC, and we need to show upstate that we support the Blue-Gold All-Star events.
Floating anxiety - It's the feeling of uneasiness brought on by a reluctance to make a decision. My wife and I introduced a formal request that Turf Field Two be renamed Carolyn Ivins Stadium. The request wasn't tabled; it just never reached the table. Has anyone else noticed that Legends Stadium has not included a woman in the ring of honor? Evidently not, because no one is talking about it. Remember the Cape Crusaders basketball program and a suggestion through this column and more formally from Commissioner Tom Pederson that the gym fee be waived as the program appears to be a workable and successful adjunct of the educational program? Well, that didn't happen, and now unless the next chicken barbecue raises five grand, there may be no Crusaders program. Finally, I would hope the district would hire Bob Fulton as superintendent, give him a three-year contract and not go west to Route 13 looking for a new person. I'm sure Bob just hit the floor exclaiming, "I”m done! Fredman, who just turned Republican so he could vote for Ernie Lopez, endorsed me in his sports column!” Hey, I remember when Bob Fulton coached the Lewes ninth-grade basketball team to an undefeated season. I remember that John Skoglund, who is now 36, was a player on that team along with Bruce Pitts, Lamar Thompson, Brett Melson, Donnie Dukes and Taiwan Savage.
Snippets - Cape Henlopen held its golf banquet recently, and coach Claudio Smarelli named French foreign exchange student Elsa Toletti team MVP and freshman Mikey DeStasio most improved golfer. The last four years of Cape field hockey, the regular season has only produced one loss and a tie. The 2012 season schedule shows Cape at Severna Park on Sept. 15. The Falcons under coach Lillian Shelton have won 20 state championships since 1979, including 2011. Shelton retired after last season. Cape can definitely play with this team; I know they don't call me Mr. Field Hockey for nothing. The Cape football team will host Archbishop Spalding of Maryland Friday, Sept. 14. The Cavaliers are coming off a 7-4 season and have nine winning seasons in a row. The inconsistent selection process that varies with every sport and the haphazard release of all-state selections of athletes have me chasing the yarn ball of confusion, and I've been a sportswriter for 30 years. What really caught my attention was a printed statement: "The News Journal will later pick the Player of the Year for softball.” What? Really? Why is that a good idea? I'm still waiting for The Dialog to announce the Delaware All-State All-Catholic team. Go on now, git!
