Cone of uncertainty surrounds protected cylinder of offensive basketball players 

Cone of Uncertainty - There is a cylinder of personal space in basketball, lacrosse, soccer and social settings that protects players from crazed defenders whose mission is to shut them down. South Carolina women’s basketball players all play like that for the entire game. Watching the Final Four game between Connecticut and South Carolina, I predicted in the first half that the Huskies would not weather the storm. Like Jumpin’ Jack Flash, they were caught in a crossfire hurricane. I see two possible coaching reactions. The first is to challenge your team to body up and play back with the same intensity. The other is to work the refs, suggesting they call the game closer. “I ain’t got time” (means I do) to focus on what happened between coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley after the game, which had them barking at each other. I just know there is little love for Geno, who was unrelentingly blasted on social media over a long weekend. 

Covering the field - Some professional photographers use remote cameras to cover the field. I’m not a professional, plus I don’t like too many balls in the air. I did a recreational shoot March31, when the Fred Thomas boys’ lacrosse team was hosting Magnolia, a Caesar Rodney middle school. I went to Fred's offensive end first because James Fred plays attack and I wanted to get a closeup photo of him to send to his first cousin Mikey Fred, who plays attack for Mercer. And then I stayed with Fred goalie Mack Schilling, whose name sounds a lot like German heavyweight champ Max Schmeling, who lost to Joe Louis in 1938. Mack is a seventh-grader who works with high school goalie Mason Trench. On one of his strays from the cage, I think he may have said, “How’s it going, Fredman?” Great player, great teammate. Mack is that guy. Playing middie for Magnolia was sixth-grader Taj Lopez, son of Malek Lopez and Jennifer Maull Lopez. Malek grew up with Geoff Shupard, Cape’s head lacrosse coach, and is the uncle to wrestling Davonne Dallas, the 167-pound Henlopen champion out of Milford. Ernie Lopez, not part of the the previous Lopez muppet matrix, was there to support Marshall Sheetz, but the muppet master ain’t got time for all that (actually I do), but readers react, “Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar and let’s get on with our sports lives.”

Garfield Parkway - Six hundred stay cats and kids, some wearing bunny ears, gathered at the top of Garfield Parkway in downtown Bethany Beach April 4 for the running of the Bunny Palooza 5K. There was also a Kiddie K and more than 100 walkers and talkers. Blake Brown, 17, of Felton was the overall winner in 16:47. Trudy Dalton, 40, of Selbyville was the overall women's winner in 21:27.  

Got granny hammered - Two years ago, I stuck my head into the oscillating Phillies fans network and wrote that I didn’t like John Kruk as a color commentator. Readers who are fans of Phillies baseball with a choice between Kruk and Fredman choose Kruk every time. My poll numbers were underwater like a millpond carp. Kruk’s estimated net worth is $25 million, so he is also that guy. Sidebar: Magic Johnson is doing Capitol One commercials and he is an established billionaire. 

Snippets - Zack Gelof  (Cape, University of Virginia) had started the MLB season with the Las Vegas Aviators as part of a rehab stint from various injuries. Zack is being groomed as a super utility player and has been sparkling as a centerfielder. Expect Zack to be called up soon, and what happened in Vegas can stay on his resume. Mason Fluharty (Cape, Liberty) started for the Blue Jays against the White Sox April 4 in what was designated as a bullpen game. Mason pitched one inning and gave up one run. Steve Whiting, an athlete of mine from 50 years ago, asked me at a reunion meeting on a bench in front of the Rookery golf course, “Coach Fred, have you ever had an athlete that you just couldn’t reach?” Some images flashed in my memory bank of athletes who went down the wrong road. The cliché, “You can’t save them all” flashed into focus, but I added, “You have to try. As a coach, you can never give up on anyone.” Just then, locals Russell Small and Mike Faust walked by, with Mike saying, “We’re on our way to the ibuprofen bar.” Aleve it at that. Go on now, git!