Best Buddies 5K puts the perspective on friendship

Best Buddies - Making new buddies at the Best Buddies 5K held Aug. 12 at Dewey Beach Lions Club. Jaden from Seaford shows his medal from the kids’ race. Michael, a volunteer, just graduated from Delcastle last spring. After meeting me, he came back and said, "Excuse me, did you say your name was Fredman or Breadman?" That is the best question I've been asked since someone queried, “Are you the principal at Beacon?”

Fifty years of Cape sports - Subtract the difference and add one and that’s how you get to 50. The first school year of the consolidated Cape school district was 1969-70. You very much live and play the year you lift off, so it counts, but you may have a problem selling it in advanced calculus class where there are no real-life applications unless you intend to rendezvous your rocket with the space station. Cape hockey has a game scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29, hosting Our Lady of Good Counsel to mark the 50-year celebration of Cape hockey. The historical sociologists will be coming out of the dank locker rooms of the past, talking about how the game and uniforms have changed, perhaps arguing the sport was purer and more inclusive back before turf fields and travel hockey. Players from the liftoff generation have stories to tell, but most fall into the “I can tell it but can’t sell it” bag of untold stories. Perhaps a barrage of tweet storms can bring forward an appreciation of the past?

Courage of convictions - Some NFL players kneel and a few raise a fist during the pregame national anthem. It all started as a form of silent protest against unequal application of force by police against black citizens. Repeated videos of shootings and beatdowns pop up, which most often are resolved with no charges. I’d just say, if a fan is infuriated and whacked out by this silent display, then they should have the courage of their convictions and not watch the games. Grandmom Rose: “Anyone overcome by feelings of intense patriotism should go join the Marines. I know I would if they accepted aging white women.” 

Back in the day - Let’s focus on 50 years of Cape high school football. I’ve listened to players as young as 10 years out of high school say: “They ain’t like we was. These kids today got no heart, man. Our crew, we came to ball.” I usually answer, “C’mon, slick, with your 185-pound maximum bench and your 5.3-second 40 time, you couldn’t get off the sidelines in today’s game.” The good coaches adjust to the changing culture around them and put a winning product on the field. And I add this parting shot to these old-before-their-time young men: “Absolutely no one is as good as they thought they were; although, I’m pretty sure I used to be better than any of you guys ever came to be.”

Parent in my pocket - I’ve seen the posted photos of aspiring freshmen college athletes checking into dorm rooms. It’s the same as it ever was, except for all the ways it is not, like social media and text messages. Hey, I’m a first-generation texting granddaddy; imagine the social milieu at the other end. “Who are you texting with, Lizzie?” “It’s my grandfather, Fredman.” I can’t tell you if that’s lame or if I got game, and I don’t care, but I can see the potential for a meddlesome mommy just losing her mind and not backing it down. Fifty-five years ago on a dark Sunday night, my mother dropped me off in front of Johnson Hall on North Broad Street at Temple University. I pulled a single army duffle bag out of the trunk of the Chevy Nova. Mom looked around at the lights of the city and up at the 11-story dorm, and I’ll never forget what she said, “Boy, you don’t belong here,” then she rolled away like a trackless trolley.

Snippets - All that was missing from the Phillies’ abysmal performance in San Diego was the San Diego Chicken, the best mascot in the history of all sports. I wish the Chicken had been there messing with them. Heck, I’m in favor of the Phanatic putting the hex on them, whatever it takes, all the analytics and running deep counts isn’t baseball, it’s cricket. I’m looking for 74-year-old Manny Sanguillen as hitting coach, an all-star catcher with the Pirates 1971, 1972 and 1975, a lifetime .296 hitter. He would swing at anything, loved the high over the head pitch. Manny would climb the ladder and chop at it. Rylie’s Smile Foundation 5K is set for Labor Day Monday, Sept. 3, at American Legion Post 17. Make it a local thing and be there. I coached Rylie’s dad, Sean Maedler, in football, a member of an offensive line that also included Tom Sombar, Mike Hilligoss, Jeff Burnham and Myron Selby. I remember their average SAT scores were pushing 1200. So come show up and I’ll punch your local card, redeemable anyplace locals are held in high regard. Until then, go on now, git!