Draft Manziel, risk getting a ‘polarizing lightning rod’
Polarizing lightning rod - ESPN NFL reporter Sal Paolantonio, speaking about the upcoming NFL draft and who should gamble on taking quarterback Johnny Manziel, said with his insider attitude, “A source close to Manziel described him in two words: polarizing lightning rod.” The report ran all day and I kept scratching my head. But isn’t polarizing lightning rod three words? I know, whatever, that’s not the point, but then why say 'two words'? It’s like saying, “There are two things I don’t like about you and here’s three of them.”
Multiple intelligences - Smart people are mostly globally smart and talented. They can do all kinds of things at the same time, and an apparent emphasis on one skill set - let's say athletics - doesn’t in any way detract from the skill set in another - let's say academics. Personally, I tend to overemphasize the things I like to do, and who doesn’t, except those with a martyr or persecution complex. I am attracted to really smart people; I’m interested in what they have to say or write about, and I could not care less if it’s in any way connected to sports. Grand Mom Rose: “Most of us have no idea who most of us is.” Cape’s athletes are mostly high-performance academic students as well. One does not detract from the other. Like a cracked aquarium, the argument just doesn’t hold water.
One eye open - The Phillies are a painful viewing experience wherever you manage to find them on your broadcast lineup. The team itself is abysmal, but at least the announcers are embarrassingly inept. Tom McCarthy, the lead guy, should take a network job and just get out of town or demand the Phillies get him some professional help. It’s like he’s teaching a remedial class in broadcasting; trying to make Matt Stairs and Jamie Moyer interesting is just impossible. I feel awkward just watching, so I go to the Nationals and Orioles for my baseball fix, which by the way I don’t need.
Comparative scores - I have found when coaching teams that comparative scores were interesting, and watching film (or whatever it's called now) was good for scouting, whatever good that is, but more often than not the opponent who showed up on game day looked totally different when they were playing back trying to beat my team. Mostly they were better and hence two conclusions, one, “Everybody gets up for you guys," and two, “We mostly play down to our opposition.” The bottom line is, "Don’t pencil in any victories, and never discount your own chances to pull off what others consider an upset.”
Snippets - Cape girls' lacrosse has two former players on teams getting ready for the NCAA Division I lacrosse tournament. Alec Perry, a senior midfielder for High Point, is set to play at Notre Dame May 9, while Sara Young is on a Penn squad that will host Canisius.
Jon Warren and Tony Floyd will be playing basketball for Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md., next year, according to coach Steve Re.
Re, a physical education teacher at Beacon Academy, will run his summer 2014 Coastal Basketball Academy from 9 a.m. to noon, June 23-26 for grades K through 4 at Beacon; the cost is $75. For grades 5 through 8, the academy will run sessions 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 11-14. T he cost is $150. For more information call Re at 410-430-7842 or email Stephen.re@cape.de.us.
Henlopen track championship finals are Friday, May 9, at Dover High; track finals begin at 5:30 p.m.
My high school basketball coach, John Clark, did not like fancy moves and would often comment, “Hey, Hot Shot, save it for the prom.” I guess it was a “quick moves" joke, never quite got the connection. I do know that coaches of spring sports just hope their athletes make it through prom weekend without doing anything stupid, and good luck with all that.
Aloha means hello and goodbye in Hawaiian; May 6 at Caesar Rodney the ump said aloha to the boss man of Bagel Bombers Dave Vitella, who watched the last two innings from the top row of bleachers at the nearby women’s stadium. I just find that funny - seems like since they got back from Hawaii, the baseball team is locked in a closet of bad karma.
There is a Mother's Day 5K race at Irish Eyes in Lewes Saturday, May 10. Start time is 9 a.m. Can you beat a boiled hot dog in a stone parking lot at 10 a.m. on a Saturday? Yes, you can beat it with two.
Go on now, git!
