Downside and upside - It was the photo I wanted and the Viking hockey coaches went along. I guess it was to humor me as I’m usually the one with the jokes. It was the last half-day of kindergarten through eighth grade field hockey camp, and I wanted a photo of the 150 players and their coaches. I kept saying, "The picture will be imperfect, all kids won’t be identifiable, but I just want readers of the Gazette to get a sense of it.” This is what a sports juggernaut looks like. Not a field of dreams, but a place where magic happens and dreams have been realized. And so all that got done. It was followed by smaller group photos. Then I was gone like the Pink Flamingo on Rehoboth Avenue. I drove to DE Turf to check out the American Select girls' lacrosse tournament. Each player on a select team in that tournament paid about $800 for the privilege of being there. There were three group levels and plenty of local players, but there was only one problem: There was no place to park close to the field where Delaware kids were playing and you had to pay $20 to park using a text system or you would be towed. I considered that an empty and unnecessary threat. And if you know the sociological profile of lacrosse families, you can bet your golden retriever you ain’t towing that doodle demographic. When I was in Catholic grammar school, I was warned by clergy that life is not all about sports. "What are you going to do when you can’t play anymore?” Turns out I would write about and take photos of other people playing ... just as long as I can park close to the field. 

“LeBag" James - Sportscaster Jim Rome calls LeBron James “LeBag,” a nickname describing LeBron’s attention-seeking drama. President Trump suggested that James “may be a racist” because “he doesn’t like Trump.” James has been dealing with others analyzing him since he was a junior in high school playing in the Slam Dunk to the Beach tournament at Cape’s Little Big House. I have been saying before James became a 41-year-old NBA player that 7-footers play well after 40, but the game is just too taxing and takes its toll on the body for everyone else who has to run and jump for a living. I am hopeful, but I am skeptical. "I’m only human after all. Don’t put the blame on me.” – Rag’n Bone Man.

Barriers and barrels - That sounds like a country album. Route 1 north of Five Points, and throw in Wescoats Corner, Old Orchard Road and Janice Road.  Finding your way at night is a roundabout adventure. You're paying attention, taking chances and merging with traffic beyond work zone speed. It helps if you were an athlete who played a skill position and can read on the run. Did you ever play tackle football without pads with non-athletic people who don’t know how to play? They will hurt you, because that’s all they got. Every day is game day, and it's a great adventure when you venture out for prescription medication or ice cream. 

Pickleball is here to stay - I don’t get it because I don’t play it, but the newest sport on the block where I don’t live is populated by age-group athletes who are zealots. The Danny and the Juniors' 1957 hit lyrics, “Rock and roll is here to stay, it will never die. It was meant to be that way, though I don't know why. I don’t care what people say, rock and roll is here to stay." And they were right. I think pickleball, also here to stay, is a funny word because the ball is not shaped like a pickle, but there is also the Banana Ball championship baseball league. To quote tennis legend John McEnroe, "You can’t be serious!”  

Snippets - I photographed 500 runners over two days of 5K races: the 24th Penn State College Day 5K in Dewey and the 47th Dam Mill 5K in Millsboro. The fastest land animal was 20-year-old Daniel Danilovitz, who won the Penn State race in 15:41, a 5:03 mile pace. Kris Danilovitz, 53, Daniel's mom, ran 24:27. Natalie Lutz, 44, was the fastest female of the weekend, running the Dam Mill 5K in 19:25. The fastest walker in the Penn State 5K was Adele Wagner, 70, in 34:18. Rick Day, 63, was the fastest walker at Dam Mill, posting a 39:14. Humorist Dave Barry described race walking as dork walking because it's just hard to look cool doing it. Time yourself in a one-mile race walk and prepare to be amazed how slow you are. The world's best time for the men’s one-mile race walk is 5:24.50 by Mexico’s Ever Jair Palm Olivares. My personal best is 13:30, but that was when I was in shape. Go on now, git!