Truckin’ Triathlon: Wawa to the bay to the Cape campus

Blue Ice - Truck Cab Triathlon - There are three venues where I like to park and reflect while drinking coffee. One is Lewes Beach to gaze at the sea of tranquility. Another is the front row of Wawa to watch people go in and come back out. And my favorite is the Cape Henlopen High School campus because I’m a sports memories freakazoid. I see touchdowns and goals, track races and jumpers. The frozen fields Jan. 26 looked bluer than the ocean at the hot dog (fishermen know); the temps were well below freezing, but the sun produced melting, which would refreeze overnight. “Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on.” – Joni Mitchell, 1971.

Ride share - I was sitting in the endzone section with Tennessee Titans parents at the 2000 Super Bowl. Time for one more play at the far end of the field. Steve McNair passed to a crossing Kevin Dyson who was tackled at the 1-yard line. McNair’s mother was sitting right in front of me. She had her head down, her lips were moving and she was praying. She showed no reaction as the Rams stormed the field. I said to her, “I’m sorry for Steve, and for you, mom, that the play didn’t go for a touchdown.” In a calm voice she said, “It is wrong to wish for too much in life. I am blessed. We are all blessed.” Note: Steve McNair’s storybook life would end tragically in 2009 when he was shot and killed by a girlfriend as he slept on her couch. He was 36 years old. What’s the moral of the story, Fredman? Count your blessings while you can still count.

Identity crises - One-trick ponies are one sore hoof away from a cheap trick bob-tailed nag. The trick is to diversify, enjoy a bag of tricks and be too cool for school if you’ve already graduated. I’m talking about young athletes who spontaneously stop playing organized sports before they move out of the guest room that was never meant for them in the first place. Young retrievers are relieved when the master blaster owner stops throwing the ball they are no longer enthused to chase. Being judged by sports performances gets old quickly after high school graduation, and many young people are ready to move on instead of hanging on. Being an athlete is an ideal – fitness of body and mind – the individual controls; it has nothing to do with wearing a number or some coach’s evaluation.    

College lacrosse season - There are more local athletes playing college lacrosse than any other two sports combined. Practices began in early January. There is a full slate of games this weekend. Insidelacrosse.com is the best site to keep track of teams and athletes. By the time spring sports practices begin for local high schools, many colleges will have already played five games. And by Memorial Day weekend, it will all be over. Personally, I will have five grandchildren playing lacrosse this spring – two in college, two in high school and one in middle school. 

Coach of the Year - The Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association announced its selection for Delaware Coach of the Year. The selections were Randy Johnson, who led Caravel Academy softball to its fifth straight state title, and DeSean Jackson, first-year head football coach of Delaware State University. The DSBA awards luncheon is on Presidents’ Day, Monday, Feb. 16, at Riverfront Events at the Hyatt Hotel, Wilmington. Tickets may be purchased on the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame website at desports.org/product-category/tickets/. Randy passed away Dec. 21 at the age of 66. The softball field at Caravel has already been dedicated as Randy Johnson Field.  

Snippets - Wrestling rankings by weight classes give the best handle on the statewide competition. Teams are moving toward conference championships followed by the state duals and ending with the meet of individuals at Cape Henlopen High School. Top-ranked local grapplers are Anthony Andrews, Sussex Tech, 132; John Rovillard, Sussex Central, 144; Grayson Davis, Cape, 150; Nick Walker, Cape, 157; and Greg Lockett, Milford, 285. Cape grad Ava Calciano, the 2025 Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year, is a freshman infielder for the UConn Huskies. Connecticut opens the season Friday, Feb. 6, playing St. Joe’s at Elon in North Carolina. The Huskies are defending Big East champions. Bill Belichick took some air out of the ball on a frigid day and it probably cost him a first-ballot induction into the NFL Hall of Fame, as he fell short of the 40 of 50 votes needed. Who knows if he cares. I only know I don’t. Go on now, git!