Athlete verbal commitments are contractually non-binding

Magic Mikey - I posted a photo of Mikey in a Michigan shirt holding a lacrosse stick 10 years ago when he was 8 years old. I wrote that he had verbally committed to Michigan, but forgot to tell them. Some local people thought it was for real. I assured them it was not, because Mikey couldn’t read Michigan upside down, which was an entrance requirement. Three stellar Cape athletes I have seen go to work on the athletic fields have verbally committed to colleges. Lexi Nowakoski, a junior, committed to Vanderbilt for lacrosse; Cody Trivits, a senior, committed to Randolph Macon for lacrosse; and Hannah Maney, a junior, committed to Iowa for field hockey. The verbal commitment is not contractually binding, does not guarantee admittance, and no money can be discussed until admission is secured and the athlete officially signs.

Long-suffering fans - I qualify when it comes to the Phillies, going back three stadiums to Connie Mack when I lived three blocks from the ballpark. But I'm reminded by younger people that real fans stay tuned during tough times like September losing streaks when trying to make the playoffs. I bailed Wednesday night when Toronto scored three late, but I came back when I heard it was tied. I watched the 10th inning with the sound turned down while writing this column. But, hey, Matt Vierling, your high hopper up the middle to walk off the game was great, but running around with no shirt is sure to prompt a topless section if the Phils make the playoffs.

Yahoo Sports - Being called a yahoo is not a compliment, so when did so many yahoos begin dedicating part of the family budget to betting on sporting events? I was in a local online pool for a few years centered near  The Circle in Georgetown. All we did was pick winners of all the NFL weekend games with no point spreads. I used the Yahoo Sports Las Vegas odds site, which simply shows you where the money was going, but there is no way of knowing if it's smart money or driven by whack, partisan, freaky fandom syndrome. I think over five years I never won a single week. The Eagles are six-and-a-half-point favorites over the Washington Commanders this Sunday, but there’s an 80% chance the fight song “Hail to the Redskins” will break out if the Commanders pull off the upset. The Dolphins are a six-point home dog to the Bills. The Cowboys at Giants is basically even, with the Giants getting a point for home field. 

Cape football - The Vikings host a tough Dover team Friday night and all prognosticating pundits have picked Dover to win the game. I’m a Cape patrician who first saw the Dover Blue take the field 47 years and three high schools ago on a Friday night in Lewes. I was Coach Fred – a new man in town – soon to become Fredman. I put on the headphones and said to rookie coach Bill Collick, “When did the New York Giants show up?” Three plays into the game, Dover sophomore Mike Meade rolled over right guard for a 70-yard touchdown. Meade would matriculate onward through a career at Penn State and Green Bay. There are basically 50 uninterrupted years of Cape playing Dover. Cape’s mission this Friday is to stay in the game, make it a four-quarter game, and if it comes down to a decision to go for two to win the game, remember in football, the only right call is the one that works. 

Snippets - Delaware Senior Olympics track and field will be at Cape Henlopen this Sunday. The field events are in the morning, with track events beginning at noon. I will be competing in the unattached-to-reality senior photographers marathon day covering the Dogfish Dash, then Senior Olympics track. I draw the line at pickleball. Go to delawareseniorolympics.org for a complete schedule. There will be a DSO awards banquet Nov. 12. The guest speaker is Mickey Morandini, who is just 56 years old. Sussex Sports Center Foundation President/Secretary Joe Schell made Sandhill Fields happen by donating the land. I’ve been there the last two weeks covering cross country events. There was a field filled with hockey players and another with youth soccer kids practicing. It’s just a great addition to the larger sports community. I don’t get involved in any facilities construction or management; I just show up and take pictures. “Thanks for all you do, Fredman. Now you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. We’re about to lock the gates.” Go on now, git!