There are no dead heats in cross country races

Dead heat - I was heading to JV field hockey when I saw there was a middle school cross country race on campus. I hustled to the finish line with the wrong camera setup, but like Wynton Marsalis I was jazzed. Thomas Bonk of Beacon rounded the bend 20 meters from the finish chute with Kai Mundok of Sussex Academy on his left shoulder. They blew by me like an express train through a local subway station. I could feel the wind and worried about getting knocked off my chair. Tim Bamforth, the meet director, made the visual call as there are no ties in cross country. Mundok 11:56 to Bonk’s 11:56.1. Although the times are irrelevant, it's all about place. Bonk thought he won the race and asked Coach B if there was a finish line photo (not mine, I am never official) because he wanted to review it. It got a little silly from there, but Tim and I both agreed it was admirable the kid cared so much. I used to tell my track athletes, “You don’t want to lose a dead heat. Try to avoid them at all costs.”  

Senior Citizen Night - Up through college, the last home game features Senior Night, even if it happens in the daytime. It’s a sentimental journey for the athletes and families. Sometimes it features the first kid moving on, and other times, it’s the last in a line of athletes. Regan Best walked across the field with her family and I joked to her dad Fred, “Alfred [grandfather] didn’t make the cut?” Fred laughed, “No, he didn’t, Fredman, but he’s over there by the fence.” I found Alfred and said, “It’s not like you're Fred Harvey – he makes all the cuts.” Alfred said, “As well he should. There's two things I never wanted to be – a bus driver or a superintendent of schools.” I did capture a photo of Alfred’s granddaughters Regan Best and Emily Wells, and Fred Harvey who was driven to midfield by Mike Connors on the Gator like the pope of Champions Stadium. Shady Grady Fred was surrounded by all team players. He be getting in everyone’s picture.   

Coach Plato to his mentor Socrates - Fast forward, they are philosophers and football coaches. “What’s up, Master P? You seem distracted. You’re not in the moment?” “I’m searching for the truth, Sock Puppet. Play calling at the end of the game. How do you ever know if the decisions made are right from the choices available? The right play for the moment?” “Easy. It is not a dichotomous choice but more nuanced and integrated but easily answered. Just ask yourself, ‘Did the play work?’ ‘Was it successful?’” “No, it didn’t work.” “Wrong play Brohem!”  

Unhealthy interaction - Top-tier athletes across major sports that generate revenue and a fanbase make too much money down through college, and so do their coaches. Rabid fans feel they have free rein to criticize, and the published takedowns are often brutal. The media are once removed from the fans in a way – they are fanbase representatives – so not surprisingly, many athletes can’t stand the sight of these jokers in locker rooms or the mandatory post-game press conferences, otherwise known as dog-and-pony shows. Kick out the show ponies and just leave the dogs who like to cuddle.  

Battle of Route 9 - I first dubbed the Central versus Cape football game the Battle of Route 9, an end-of-the-year emotional rivalry often ending with on-the-field conflagrations. Now that “The Castle” has moved to Patriots Way and we all know the back way to get there, the emotions seem toned down, and many fans see it as a sign the players don’t care as much. Sussex Central has the major helmet-to-helmet advantage over Cape spanning a lot of years. The game is crucial this season. It's like a playoff game because the team that loses will be chilling in a duck blind once the postseason playoffs begin. 

Snippets - Travel teams and postseason honors are nice, but they don’t level up to taking control of academics. There is not only academic grant money you don’t have to pay back, but also college credits to be earned while still in high school through Academic Challenge and Advanced Placement courses. There are many student-athletes who are committed and heading off to play a sport who are already college sophomores before they take a step on a college campus. Students with that profile always graduate, and most on time. The Mariners and Dodgers are the frontrunners to meet in the World Series. Both West Coast teams playing in progressive cities. Not sure what that means, but it will be talked about. Go on now, git!