Holy goalie, Batman. The Riddler returns to guard the cage

The Riddler - Izzy Mekulski was a question mark last field hockey season as a first-year starter as a junior. Cape won the state title, going 17-2 with eight shutouts. Izzy made a big save late in a 2-1 state championship win over Smyrna. She had four big saves in the game. "Holy goalie, Batman,” the Riddler is back for a final season. Unflappable, unrufflable, smart kid. Fans never know what she's thinking. Izzy is backed up by sophomore Myla Smith, who has looked awesome over the summer season. Izzy is also a top-flight student. The breakdown is simple: “See the ball, stop the ball, don’t give up any rebounds.”

Zeus about to bust loose - Back about 1998, Dan Cook and I were credentialed to cover the Ravens, Eagles and Redskins as working journalists for the Cape Gazette. Dan on the field, me in the pressbox. I once wrote of Ravens tackle Orlando Brown, “Brown has gone in the tank so often this season his mail is forwarded to the Baltimore Aquarium.” My nephew Mike was a teammate and showed the comment to the player everyone called Zeus at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds. “I thought it was funny,” Mike said. “But Zeus didn’t see it that way. He wants you to come to the locker room so he can talk to you about it. He uses a lot of bad words even when he’s happy, so I’m not sure what he said, but I suggest you don’t get within arm’s reach.” Brown became the owner of the first Fatburger franchise in Maryland. He died at 40 years old of diabetic ketoacidosis. In 1999, Brown was hit in the eye by a referee’s flag. He left the game but returned and shoved the official to the turf. Zeus doesn't play around while Fredman’s got jokes from the safety of the press box high above the gridiron. 

General managers - Vocal Phillies fans are mostly miserable, finding lots to complain about even with their team leading the National League East at the all-star break. But it’s not surprising, as everyone in our culture's checkmate climate expresses expertise in areas where they have no training and no ownership. I saw a fan comment on philly.com that the only reason Brandon Marsh stays on the team is women who are fans of the Phils like the dirtbag look. Do newspapers that allow online comments after articles and columns have an actual human look at comments? I’m not so sure anymore. Who moderates statements that are out-of-the-box offensive, slanderous and libelous?

Maurki James - Listed as a redshirt freshman on the Old Dominion football roster wearing No. 5. The stats published on the Monarchs’ website read, “As a senior, had 278 carries for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns … Totaled 3,398 yards and 42 touchdowns in his career … Also caught 26 passes for 358 yards and four scores … Helped lead Cape Henlopen to a berth in the state championship game … Rushed for 191 yards and five touchdowns in the semifinal win over Sussex Central.” The team opens Aug. 30 at Indiana. 

Sweet Elissa - My version of going to the beach is to hover over it at Herring Point sitting on a bench and listening to mockingbirds. Mid-afternoon a few weeks ago under a bright-bulb sun, a young mom there to pick up her daughter and some friends who included my granddaughter Meredith started talking to me from the darkness of an open car window. It was Elissa Ruppert emitting a sun-like radiance. She was shining like the soft tones of the golden hour. Elissa died July 6 at the age of 49. I know her three children Lucas, Ella and Julia, as they aligned with my bloodline of Mikey, Lina and Meredith. Son Jack coached lacrosse with Elissa, as did her dad, Steven, and Steve Forestieri. Elissa’s enthusiasm always started with talking about her children, then thanking me for always being nice to them, and then she talked about the awesomeness of my grandchildren. I knew her for 10 minutes at a time since Lucas was in seventh grade. He is now a college senior. Elissa had perspective and was so happy to be sharing life’s journey with all the muppets in the matrix of Sesame Street by the Sea. I get a peaceful empty feeling when I go to the Herring Point overlook. I'm a little sad for her children and all their friends who lost a beautiful person from this beautiful place.

Snippets - Two pool referendums inside the Cape district have failed. A local argument has been, “With all this water around here, why do we need a swimming pool?” Saltwater affected by tides and currents is potentially a dangerous environment for swimmers and anyone standing next to a fast-moving estuary. Anyone who goes in to rescue someone better be trained, and best to bring a buoy. Go on now, git!