You can’t go home again, but home is where the heart is

Home is where the heart is - “You Can’t Go Home Again” is a novel by Thomas Wolfe that was published in 1940. Basically, the title infers how nostalgia causes us to view the past in an overly positive light. I was named Cape’s track coach 50 years ago in 1975, then retired 10 years later in 1985. Some of my guys suggested during that time that I should come back, but I went to the lyrics of fellow Temple guys, Hall and Oates, “I can't go for that, no can do.” Robert Martin, Cape’s personnel director from the jump, told me Cape kids are cosmopolitan (citizens of the world): “They take us where we need to go as track coach and pull you back if you push too hard. We are not some out-of-the-way place just waiting for the summer tourists to arrive, but when they do, our kids will know and show hospitality. Does that make sense to you?” Fifty years after listening to Robert, I have created my own concept of citizenry called “Sesame Street by the Sea,” a place where everyone has multiple muppet disorder. 

Spread out - The Cape boys’ track team, coached by the OG Ellis Gaulden, has a legit shot at the Division I state championship this May. Cape spreads out over 18 events better than any other team, but that is not the only formula for winning a big meet. There is the quality over quality approach. You can basically win a big meet with about seven athletes if they are all top-of-the-line performers who can pile up points in specific events. Back in 1985, I took an undefeated team into the state meet. We had dominated all season and won every meet from duals to invitationals to the conference. The day of the meet, I had three front-line performers not make the morning bus; they went into witness protection and could not be found. Delcastle won the meet in dominant fashion with 150 points, so at least we helped make the Cougars happy. The next year, under coach Bill Degnan, Cape won the meet 99-91 over Delcastle. Coach Bill sent that trophy to my house; it was carried in the back door by runner Mark Stack. Mark said, “Coach Bill said this belongs to you. Just bring it to school Monday along with the track suit you gave to Grandma Rose.”   

Does the venue matter? The girls’ lacrosse (12 p.m.) and boys’ lacrosse (3 p.m.) state finals are Saturday, May 31, at Caesar Rodney High School. The baseball finals are at 7 p.m., May 31, at Frawley Stadium. The softball finals are at 7 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the University of Delaware. The Division I and Division II soccer finals are Sunday, June 1, at Caravel Academy. The state track and field meet is Friday and Saturday, May 16-17, at Dover High School. Volleyball finals are set for Thursday, May 22, at Smyrna. The state golf tournament is Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27-28, at St. Anne’s Club in Middletown. The tennis championships are Wednesday, May 21, at St. Andrew’s School. Unified track and field’s meet is May 16-17 at Dover High. Those southern Delaware teams who are all about beach life must drive north while watching all the traffic heading south. Some Cape team is going to win a title and be escorted through traffic by multiple fire trucks. It’s going to be wild.

High flyers and hard landers - Jumpers gonna jump and dunkers gonna dunk. The size and power of NBA players during the playoffs has just been scary. Hockey players get rammed into the boards, which are designed to give a little, plus the players are on skates. Together, it lessens the impact, and they’re wearing helmets and pads. But these playoffs, I’ve seen NBA players who look like they've been dropped from tall buildings onto the hardwood. But the amended adage in sports, “He who hesitates is toast,” is at play here. You know the saying, "Pride cometh before the fall.” These human wrecks have been spectacular. 

Snippets - I call it the matrix – the computerized system that takes into account season records and strength of competition to determine postseason state tournament seedings. I’m not sure of anything, but I’m thinking AI is about to take over that system of fairness. I think the final word on seedings should be made by triumphant or tribal elders because digital fairness doesn’t know what it doesn’t know. Mikaylah “Sunrise” Lindsay (Cape), a starting sophomore goalie for Winthrop University, is tied for fifth place in school history for saves with 133. Mikey Frederick (Cape), a junior attacker at Mercer University, was named Impact Player of the Year at the Bears’ season-ending banquet. Middle school officials and umpires are unsung heroes; they help kids play the game, and there is no game without them. Go on now, git!