Sharing the roads at Sesame Street by the Sea

Sharing the road - Lewes running races staged at Irish Eyes thanks to the graciousness of Charlene and Tom Jones, who support all community causes, had to move off Anglers Road because that morning culture didn’t like being inconvenienced by the fitness crowd, who can be annoying if you’re not one of them. And as I often joke, “Running ain’t a real sport like fishing,” just keeping my eye on an outrigger making sure a flying green hoochie hasn’t been cast at my head. Some walkers of small designer dogs suggested to Tim Bamforth Sunday morning that he should take his races to the trail system and go annoy birdwatchers and bikers. Sesame Street by the Sea down to Bethany has become a running mecca and is a factor when families choose vacation destinations. Back in the bygone days, there were races on golf courses. Why not get out there and annoy a few duffers on the weekends even though running is not a real sport like golf?

Rope-a-Copa - I was suspended on the rim of sleep, fighting myself to “stay woke” for the final minutes of Argentina’s historic win over Brazil in the Copa America soccer final. Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana'' invaded my brain and I couldn’t shake it loose. The announcers convinced me that Lionel Messi of Argentina was a heroic player, therefore I should root for him, and since I knew no one else, I figured “Sure, why not?” But the players took more dives than the Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso crew. Exquisitely fit and fast athletes seemed to fall down and writhe in pain when barely brushed and sometimes even after not being touched at all. Italy won the Euro 2020 soccer championship over England on penalty kicks, the game tied at 1-1 after 120 minutes of up-and-down, then fall-down inaction. I also was convinced by the hype that I should root for England – and I quietly did – although Italy was clearly the better soccer team. The reactions on the streets of London and on social media were dark and hateful, and had me thinking “England deserved to lose.” That is a country with some serious social issues, but let’s not mix politics with sports.  

Objective tests - Many teachers give objective tests because they are easy to grade. But cruising through the social milieu of real life, it’s all about blending. Everything is a mixture, and that includes sports and politics. Four Phillies were lifted from a Sunday game in Boston because of an asymptomatic COVID positive test for one player, with the other three pulled out because of contact tracing. What is unspoken is that the Phillies are less than 85 percent vaccinated, because any individual maintains the right to decline vaccination. This is personal and often political and endlessly arguable without resolution possible. I spent a teaching career discussing breaking news events with high school students while also maintaining this column, which has always been a blend of sports and society, highlighting changes in our culture as they relate to sports. 

Gambling addiction - The “rules are rules” people were quick to jump on Sha'Carri Richardson’s punishment and suspension from the Olympic team for testing positive for THC. And it happened in Oregon of all places, where there are hemp and head shops close to Hayward Field. But whatever, let's not mix politics with sports. And let’s not talk about professional sports now merging with online gambling sites because that rule that used to be a rule evidently ain’t a rule no more. And when gambling addicts show up inside a nuclear family, it’s best to call the father of Britney Spears and ask him how to set up a conservatorship, because when the family budget gets blown up, the entire family is getting scattered.   

Snippets - Summer games of soccer, hockey and lacrosse played on turf are hard to watch in person unless you dress like the Sheik of Araby. Have you ever noticed the crew driving carts at large tournaments never offer anyone a ride? I notice, especially when walking with two cameras and a blue chair, feeling like an endurance athlete. Do you think endurance athletes burn out and age out, and one day look back proudly over a body of work, then sigh, “Time for this old boy to get fat.” I gave grandson Mikey a 40-year-old buoy for his 17th birthday now that he’s a Dewey Beach lifeguard, and he seemed quite happy about it. The beach life is the best life. Go on now, git!