Arden MacPhee turns the world on with her smile

Posterizing Planet Earth - Arden MacPhee, 13, is a community kid who beat the odds and childhood cancer. At the Race for Open Space 5K April 25, she floated by me like an ocean breeze. I describe certain photos as “the reason I woke up today.” The wind blew away the haze in Lewes and George H.P. Smith Park cast a luscious green hue. Arden is seven years cancer-free. She’s part of a caring community that was with her every step of the way, as long as it doesn’t include running. Arden was on Beacon’s volleyball team last fall and is on the track team this spring. Her brother Jameson was on Cape’s freshman football team. Most open spaces have been filled up with houses, but inside Sesame Street by the Sea, a caring community still looks out for one another. 

Digital diet - The numbers on the bathroom scale were changing like a space capsule on reentry. And so I replaced four AA batteries and stepped up for the weigh-in like Ingemar Johansson versus Floyd Patterson. I had gained 5 pounds in a single day. Evidently the tired batteries couldn’t keep pace with my Cheerio yo-yo diet. Johansson ran marathons after retirement. I remember him running the New York and Boston marathons in about four hours.  He and Floyd Patterson became friends and later both would die from Alzheimer's. I can hear a student in my Cape class: “Fredman, how did we get from your bathroom scale to Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson, and what does that have to do with anything?” Speaking of rocket science, that student is looking for a world explained by exactness and relevance.  

Bobblehead Tupac - The Baltimore Orioles are promoting an upcoming Tupac Bobblehead Night Friday, May 8, and they continue to order more bobbleheads, which are sure to become collectors’ items. Tupac’s mom is from Baltimore. Tupac attended Baltimore School for the Arts. In case you're asking, “What does Tupac have to do with baseball?” Biggie Smalls was born in Brooklyn, but lived in Los Angeles. You know the Dodgers will follow with a Biggie Bobblehead Night, and that’s how trends are established. Jeff Pearlman, a Delaware graduate and author of several sports biographies, just published a book, “Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur.” The point is, everything is connected to everything else, or at least something else. Throw the ball then chase the ball – you may learn something. It’s not rocket science that requires exact answers. 

Tall versus Small scrimmage - Perhaps it should be renamed the Biggie Smalls Scrimmage. It’s an annual tradition for the Cape girls’ lacrosse team that was brought to Lewes from Baltimore by the Zen Master PJ Kesmodel in 2008. The tradition has been kept active by coach Lindsey Underwood. The tall team nicknamed Kentucky Derby defeated the small team Nantucket 14-12. The Saturday morning players dressed like it was a whacky Wednesday of Spirit Week. Coaches Lindsey Underwood and Leigh Rupar reffed, and everyone came out healthy. Kesmodel believed in building fun into a high-octane program.  

Delaware Wrestling Alliance - Nick Walker was named Delaware Wrestler of the Year at the 60th annual Delaware Wrestling banquet. Nick was also awarded a DWA scholarship; they are no joke, like $10,000. Grayson Davis and Walker were recognized as state champions. Austin Guerrieri and Jack Hudson were recognized for third-place finishers. Academic awards were presented to Tripp Gannon, Alivia Longo, Owen Mattioni, Robbie Payton, Nick Walker, Emmi Swope, Carson Tuer, Davis and Hudson. 

Snippets - Tripp Gannon is your basic rock-hard courageous and adventurous athlete who has that body-for-life look. He’ll still be going while others have retired to canvas fold-out chairs. Tripp, a senior in his first year pole vaulting, cleared 13-feet-6-inches at the Unionville Invitational April 25 to place third. Teammate Will DiPaolo won the event in 14-6. And freshman distance runners snapping were Dylan Harpe running 4:29 in the 1,600  for second and Jude Peacock running a personal-best time of 2:03.9 in the 800. Jamar Beasley was second in the 800 in 2:00.2. As of April 26, the JV teams of girls’ soccer, girls’ lacrosse and boys’ lacrosse teams are unbeaten. The JV baseball team, with a 5-2 home loss to Salesianum April 25, dropped to 9-1. The Cape boys’ lacrosse team hosts Salesianum Tuesday, April 28. Cape has lost 10 straight games to Sallies over the last five years, including the last five state championship games. Cape last won the state title in 2019, beating Salesianum 12-10 in the final. Go on now, git!