Turkey soup: connections for which to be thankful

Turkey soup - Risking my sharp, satirical and sardonic edge, I've been writing more “Turkey Soup for the Soulful Student” stuff lately because that is what I’m feeling. I’ve never written a “Things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving” column, which belongs in the senior citizen section, but there are soulful moments I want to capture focusing on person-to-person contact. I often joke that people are so nice and helpful to me wherever I go to cover a sporting event. The good news is even little kids rush to help me. The bad news is I look like I need it. The following, in no particular order, is a short list of special connections for which to be thankful. 

Low-flying angel - Connections with children keep me relevant. Brooke Zolper, "My angel flying low to the ground” – Willie Nelson,  now plays Eastern Shore Lacrosse with the Class of 2032 squad. She brought a cool Gatorade to me on a hot day at the Beach Blast Lacrosse Tournament and has been my caretaker on the sidelines for the last year. I always joke that young kids like me because I wouldn’t care if they didn’t. Seriously, you've got to be chill with kids and not be needy because we all react the same to needy people – we avoid them if we can. The older the athletes, the more I jibber-jabber with them, but because none ever had me as a teacher, most of them just consider me quirky.   

White family - Cape legendary running back Henry White, who later played at Colgate University, turned 70 years old last week. Henry lives in Dallas, having retired from DuPont and Delta. He worked in sales and marketing. His brother Lance flew in from Italy to surprise him. Henry’s son George was there. Ed Waples and wife Belinda Lewis Waples flew from Delaware to join the party. Sister Hadgui made sure I was part of the celebration conversation. I talked with them all on my cellphone; I actually shouted as my hearing is off, so it’s the same for everyone else.

Massey’s Landing - The year 2019 I spoke with young Shane Massey before a track meet at Cape. "You're Fredman. I always wanted to meet you," Shane said. "People in my family talk about you all the time. And you take really great pictures.” Shane told me he wanted to break the record in the 400 meters on the Cape track because Lewes is the place where his family is from. And then he ran the fastest 400 meters ever on a Cape track in the City of Lewes, giving him the fastest time in 50 years. Afterward, I gave him a hug like I was his uncle. That's the way it works around here. If you have credibility across the generations, you are golden forever. 

Curtis and Jumpin’ Joe - Cape track legends Curtis Johnson, Class of 1979, and Joe Snead, Class of 1987, showed up at a Cape dual meet at Sussex Central in 2018. Curtis was a quietly steady relay runner back in his primetime days. Curt led off a mile relay in 1978, handing to Tracy Felton to Warren Perry to Glenn Smith. They ran 3:27 in a dual meet to beat Dover and snap the Senators’ 33-meet win streak. Jumpin’ Joe cleared 6-foot-6 in the indoor high jump and is on the all-time list. Joe is a digital demon who keeps track of all posted records.

Cuzzie - Vaughn Trammel, a 1976 Cape graduate and multi-sport raw athlete built for speed and power, was inducted into the Delaware Afro American Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. My first year at Cape, Vaughn played football, ran track and was in my class all day long – “Fredman’s fractions and fitness.” Vaughn is loyal like a lab and credits me in ways I don’t deserve. My nephew Mike after meeting “Cuzzie” the first time said to me, “What a nice guy, and he obviously loves you.” And so I’m obviously thankful about that because that child took some taming and settling down. 

Maya Yngve - Now a senior at Cape, Maya and I have been friends since she was 5 years old. She’s the daughter of Kurt and Carla, and sister of Jackson. Before the basketball game versus St. Georges at Cape in 2018, she came over and gave me a hug. She told her mom, "I wish Fredman was my grandpa," and Carla told her, “This is Sussex County; he kind of is.” I'd rather be an honorary grandpa than have an honorary doctorate any day of the week. Last week, Maya left a basketball drill in practice to come over and give me a hug. My grandchildren do that, so I guess I kinda am her grandfather.

Chico Beckett - My friend for 50 years. A better person has never walked the planet. In 1976, a track sprinter skipped a meet. The next day, he walked past me in the gym and said, “What's up, Coach Fred?” I just stared and said nothing. Chico standing nearby said, “Coach, let me tell you something about Black people ... (he was the spokesman for the entire race) we don't hold grudges like y’all.” Speaking for all white people, I must admit we can hold some serious grudges. Go on now, git!