Not About You - “It’s not about you, except without you, it's not about anything,” Grandmom Rose. Susan and I were at the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame banquet May 28 to support  the induction of Debbie Windett and Adele Mears. Emcee Chuck Durante recognized the hall of famers in the large Chase Center banquet room. He dropped my name, referenced my column and called it literary. He also mentioned David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic, created 48 years ago. I knew I had to get David Raymond's photo, but I’m not a celebrity hunter. In the case of the best and most athletic mascot east of the San Diego Chicken, I’d make an exception. Raymond joked, “Let me check with my agent." I grabbed his photo and we just exchanged some stories of his dad, coach Tubby Raymond, at the center. David said, "My dad used to tell people, 'My son’s a real clown.'" As we parted like the Red Sea, he said, "It was great talking with you, Fredman.” I thought, "I grew up in Philly, moved to Delaware and the Philly Phanatic knows my name.” To quote Jesse Jackson, "I am somebody!"

Race for the Ribbon - The Race for the Ribbon 5K was held May 31 at Cape Henlopen State Park. It always supports a local person dealing with medical misfortune or a cancer diagnosis who's going through the process, from surgery to treatments, on the way to remission and regaining of strength. This year's local person is Luke Burton, 21, a junior lacrosse player at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. A twice-cracked rib led to imaging, testing and a diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma. That took Luke out of the lax lineup and into the protocol world of rounds of chemotherapies. His treatments are close to being completed. Chad Palumbo, Princeton lacrosse All-American, is a Ewing's sarcoma survivor who was first diagnosed in high school. Luke ran the 5K Sunday because he is that guy. He was a middle school state champ when he ran for Beacon. The race had 275 runners, most of whom knew each other. Among them were many Cape lacrosse players who were teammates of Luke along with several girls from the girls' state championship team of 2026. 

Handy Andy - Andy Long is a Cape custodian and bus driver. He drove the girls' lacrosse bus to the state championship game May 30. He told me after the game, "Whatever team I drive, I watch them play. I don’t sit on the bus." And as an homage to Fred Harvey, whose health is fine but he is having some mobility problems, Andy got himself out to the field to become part of the team photo and later drove through the towns with fire truck escort. Andy is real Cape, a community guy. His son Andy wrestled for Sussex Central. 

Amalia Fruchtman - A University of Delaware basketball commit, the 2025-26 Gatorade Player of the Year led Cape to a 19-3 record and averaged 21 points per game. And then May 30 she skipped across the field as a teammate with the girls' state championship lacrosse team. The 6-foot-2 athlete had not played in high school. I asked her, "Why now? Perhaps to play with your sister Amara?” Amalia said, “A crew of lacrosse girls came back to basketball this year and helped us out. I had so much fun playing with them that I wanted to keep doing it." State champion lacrosse players who also played varsity basketball include Haley Gamuciello, Mikaela Gordon, Mairead Rishko, Amara Fruchtman and Ally Diehl. Meredith Frederick, a JV/varsity combo kid in lacrosse, also played JV basketball. Varsity basketball coach Ron Dukes went to games and became a fan of girls' lacrosse. Smart guy!

Secondhand information - Hearsay? You don’t say? I walked into Rider Stadium at Caesar Rodney High School May 30 smack between two state championship lacrosse games, with Cape boys playing Salesianum in the first one followed by Cape girls playing unbeaten Tower Hill in the second. I have tried in my career not to be a fanboy, but I am perceived as a Cape guy. And so I heard stories that reflected negatively on both Salesianum and Tower Hill. I guess no one is lining up to tell me a story about Cape being a bunch of classless clowns, which they are not, at least I have never witnessed such behavior. I did hear a story Sunday that Sussex Academy players were on social media stating their hope that Tower Hill would take down Cape. Tower laid down a 24-5 win over Sussex Academy to begin tournament play.  As a middle schooler may say, “That is just rude!” Man, I just say, "Shut out the noise.” 

Snippets - Fourteen years ago, the Cape girls' lacrosse team, winner of three straight state championships, won a tough game at Saint Mark’s 21-16. Haley Schweizer had seven goals for the Spartans. Cape was paced by Erin Ricker with seven, Anna Frederick with six and Jackie Coveleski with three. After the game, Anna said to me, “A player from the boys' team said to me: 'Sure, you guys are good, but you don’t have to play Sallies.' I told him, 'We are Sallies!'"  Best quote ever! Go on now, git!