Share: 
People In Sports

Secret to staying out of trouble: Say nothing but talk all day

November 8, 2013

Letter carrier - I went through the 26 letters of the alphabet and counted 13 that are code for words to use carefully unless you want to come under attack from the outraged and appalled who own property atop the moral high ground. Dexter Manley, former Washington Redskins lineman, is an affable but unpolished person who once had issues with drug addiction. He said in response to a question on a radio broadcast prior to this year's Dallas at Washington game, “I think Troy Aikman’s a queer.” The news anchors were described as shocked and stunned and said, “We apologize to our listeners.” Please, that is so gay. Wait - can’t say that either, basically can’t say much of anything - could drop the "R" word on Manley but that would elicit more outrage. I was watching "Jeopardy" and and the answer to one question was, “What is 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.'" I’m getting confused. And now everyone is talking about Ricky Incognito, an NFL player who, if he doesn’t take steroids needs to donate his brain to Neanderthals R Us, bullied another player  and dropped several "N" words on the head of his mixed-race teammate, which has stirred a national debate among concerned citizens who could not care less when no one is looking.

Go Where You Wanna Go - The song was released by the Mamas and the Papas in 1966 and it's how I live my life. I was in Selbyville last week covering undefeated Beacon versus undefeated Selbyviile because it seemed like a good idea. I show up all over the place and stay until the game is over. I do so many assignments others don’t want to do that the Department of Immigration thinks I’m an undocumented sportswriter. Years ago, a high school student called me out, said it was obvious I liked lacrosse better than I liked softball, and I joked, “It’s that obvious? So what’s your point?"

Sandwich Island - The Hawaiian Islands were first called the Sandwich Islands after the fourth Earl of Sandwich. I used to ask students, “What is the 50th state and they’d all scream, “Hawaii!” and I’d scream back, “Pretty good, how are you?” The Cape baseball team has encouraged (invited is too strong a word) me to travel with the team to Kauai over spring break. The Gazette always backs my play, so that’s no problem, and my wife said, “Please go, stay an extra week while you’re out there; it will be fun.” She of course was talking about herself. I’m still up in the air, which is the drawback, a 16-hour flight. I’ll be walking like the Frankenstein monster when I get off the plane.

Brother Schell - Chris Schell made a donation to the Cape baseball teams in the amount of $5,000 to help with costs for the spring trip to Hawaii. “We appreciate it so much,” coach Ben Evick said. “We also had an anonymous donation of $5,000. I mean, we know who gave it, but the person doesn’t want it publicized.”

Snippets - Soccer standout Billy Swontek is suspended for the Saturday, Nov. 9 state tournament game at Dover versus Saint Mark’s for getting his fourth yellow card of the 15-game season in the 2-1 win at Indian River. An appeal to DIAA with a three-frame photo sequence (courtesy Dan Cook) that showed no foul was disallowed. The personal foul in football is close to a yellow card, but in football, opponents don’t pretend to fall over. Tournament play in field hockey can get a bit chippy and chirpy, but I can’t remember a frontline player ever missing a game.

The Sussex Academy is looking for coaches including the spring sports of baseball. softball, golf, tennis, track and field, and girls’ and boys’ lacrosse. Contact steve.oscar@saas.k12.de.us or phone 302-856-3636.

Cape football, 5-4, is at Smyrna, 2-7, Friday night, Nov. 8, and has a chance to pull out a winning season. Cape was in the same position in November 2011 and lost to Smyrna at home 21-20 to finish the season 5-5.  The Smyrna Eagles at home are a tough out.

Joe McMillon of Cape soccer will go from defending the Cape goal to defending his country as he will join the Marine Corps after graduation. Way to go, Joe!

Go on now, git!

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter