Dolphins and Democrats: Sometimes a shirt is just a shirt

Dolphins and Democrats - I attended my first indoor barbecue July 21 to celebrate Bill Collick’s retirement. It’s the fourth retirement party for Bill over the last 10 years. Sen. Tom Carper was there on Bill’s back deck. I’ve known Tom – not sure he knows me – since his first year in office in 1983, when he visited my classroom. That’s 35 years ago. I have some friends who tilt toward the starboard side of the political ship, so I figured them seeing a photo of me with a Democratic senator would ignite negative feelings, but they were more put off by my Miami Dolphins shirt. The Dolphins players are at odds with ownership over what discipline may be allowable for on-field protests during the national anthem. It’s all pretty confusing, and it’s not causing me to give up my shirt, which is a cool color, and several women who may be Russian spies have said, “That color looks good on you.” A few years back, I had on a dark-green Jets shirt that I had picked off the rack at Marshall’s while in Food Lion. A guy jumped in front of me and started to yell “J-E-T-S! Jets!” He asked me, “How long you been a Jets fan?” I said, “Two minutes.” Dude was raging with too much testosterone for me to answer, “It’s just a stupid shirt, man.” Hey, are “we” boycotting the Eagles for bagging the invitation to the White House? I still have a Michael Vick Atlanta shirt. Can I wear it? How about Ezekiel Elliott or vintage Eagles LeSean McCoy jerseys? Peep this, wearing Eagles No. 11 jersey doesn’t make you Carson Wentz, and wearing a Dolphins shirt is not a political statement.

Rubin sandwich - A young couple came up to the blue chair where I was snapping photos toward the back end of the Dewey Beach Patrol 10K July 21 and introduced themselves. “Hi, Fredman, we’re ‘Rubin Sandwich.’” I remembered. I nicknamed them last year after the race, and it’s not often a couple can vacation (they are from Bethesda, Md.), run a race and get bestowed a nickname by a local sportswriter. Jimmy Rubin won the masters title in the 10K in 41:21, while Rebecca Rubin was age-group champion 45-49 in 49:50. I’ve always been a nicknamer and knicknacker, and, actually, when I came to Lewes my name was Dave, then quickly became coach Fred, which evolved into “Hey, like yo, coach Fred...man, I think I could get with that mile if it was a lap shorter.” 

Race to the finish - Little kids will frantically race to a finish chute if there is a prize involved, but grown people should resist the inclination to respond to that challenge. In road races, which are chip timed, the place goes to the fastest time based on time recorded at the start. In a track race, it’s always place over time, so weirdly sometimes the winner records a slower time than the person in second. At the end of the Sunday JJ 5K, I witnessed two sprints to the chute. One was Kim Geyer, 50, versus Brian Johnston, 62. Kim threw down the gauntlet and Brian picked up the challenge as they both barrelled toward the finish line funnel cloud. Brian went down, and the experienced pilot did a parachute roll, smiling the entire time at the silliness of it all. The computer had both Kim and Brian at 23:02, but worse, it decided on its own to make them both in 40th place overall. Later in the race, Professor John Neal, 80, was easy gliding to the finish in 45:50 when Sandra Gossman, 74, from Curtis Bay, Md., lined him up and frantically dusted John off by 4 seconds 45:46 for 176th place over 177th. “Did you see that?” John said with a gracious smile. The professor in real time refused to snap the bait; it’s just all-around safer and wiser to keep your wits about you because if you fall at 80, it’s “take a walker to the wild side” to the rest of life’s races.

Rugby Sevens - The World Cup of Rugby Sevens was held in San Francisco’s AT&T Park last weekend. The New Zealand team swept both titles, with the All Blacks men’s team beating England 33-12 in the final and the Black Ferns women’s team shutting out France 29-0. New Zealand rugby players are an exotic and eclectic collection of fierce-looking athletes with power and speed. I think we all would like to get lost in a Haka celebration: “A traditional war cry defined as a posture dance with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.” 

Don’t snatch - Years of teaching taught me to gently collect test papers, never quickly or with the slightest force, especially from a girl. “You ain’t got to snatch - coming down the aisle acting all bad like you somebody.” That transitions me to the free-weight exercise known as the snatch, a first cousin to the clean and jerk. All CrossFit, beast mode, challenges aside, once you hit 40 years old, you ain’t got to be snatching no more! You risk your back going out while you stay home. 

Snippets - The Phillies are leading the NL East by a game over Atlanta, but the next nine games are versus the Dodgers, Reds and Red Sox. It’s about to get real. Go on now, git!