Whistled for walking while rolling with the basketball
Walk and roll - I think sports intellect and rules of the game amendments are found on the bottom floor inside the pyramid of higher-order intelligences. The “roll on the floor rule” after snagging a loose ball whistled "walking or traveling” is just so dumb. The fact that the coach can call timeout from the bench before you roll twice to maintain possession is doubly stupid in my opinion. And many officials call walking where there is none, because good players can get that legal step and a half, dragging the trailing foot, but mostly when a ref hears that “klop-klop” they blow the whistle. My other suggestion is simply, “Make a play or get out of the way,” because standing in someone’s way when they're executing a move should be a flagrant foul. Next week, I’ll dissect rules of soccer I don’t like, starting with offsides. I mean, does the game really need to be any less action-packed?
Chemistry - I’ve taken required chemistry classes in high school and taken them over in college and realized I had no talent for the subject and even less interest, but I’m glad people get it or the rest of us would be poisoning ourselves and setting off unwanted explosions many times a year. The sports chemistry of a team is something I comprehend very well as a lifetime observer, writer and photographer. Teams that mostly win talk about their great chemistry. Their parents always say things like, “Yes, they win, but also they are such great kids.” Subject them to losing more than winning, and that entire model gets turned upside down. I find some teams I cover have annoying chemistry, and it makes a difference in outcomes. I’m a dualist when it comes to assessing athletes. The head screws onto the body and is just as important. If the people with the most natural talent also worked the hardest, the rest of us wouldn’t have a chance.
Sports social media - From where I sit - emphasis on sit - I enjoy taking sports photos and making them available to everybody. I have Facebook friends spanning 80 years, some yet to drive and others with compressed spines who can’t see over the dashboard. I don’t check out the social media world of anyone else. I just send stuff out and, as an adult, I’m not interested in the social networks of others, especially young people. But that isn’t the case for everyone. I have told coaches, “You can’t be the leader of a sports program then appear on social media with lamp shade eyelids holding a Yuengling Lager.” Community leaders caressing a whisky sour tumbler at a benefit ball posing for photos with other tumbler weeds also send a “mixed drink” message to high schoolers, and they get the message, “looks like fun.” Don’t break bad with kids if they appear in similar photos.
Snippets - Diaz Nardo (Cape) had two hits including a two-run homer in Delaware’s 12-7 home win over Maryland. Delaware right-hander Nick Spadafino (Dover) earned his first win of the year. Cape fans remember when Spadafino, then a sophomore, quarterbacked Dover to a 50-49 overtime win over Cape. On a day when the wind howls over Legends Stadium you can still hear the fans chanting, “Herky, give the ball to Jerome.” Jake Dmiterchik had a one swing “put a stewardess on that baby” grand-salami March 1, as the Seagulls of Salisbury University beat Washington College 22-12. Stevens Tech senior Andrew Scrutchfield was selected as the first Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week March 1. Andrew had the winning goal with 38 seconds left in a victory over No. 19 Endicott. Kristen Schriver (Worcester) had three goals and two assists for unbeaten 5-0 Winthrop in a 16-7 win over St. Francis. Molly Soule (Worcester), a walk-on at Virginia Tech (Meg Bartley of Cape is a grad assistant), got a chance in a 17-2 win over Radford and responded with a hat trick. Molly was first sub in a 10-7 loss to Old Dominion. Lilly Dinardo (Worcester) had a goal as Virginia defeated William and Mary 16-8. Lilly missed last season with ACL surgery. Tiara Duffy (Cape), who just turned 20, made the SEC all-freshman team last year for the South Carolina Gamecocks softball team. This season, Sweet Tea is coming off the bench and batting .333 for the 14-2 Gamecocks. The toughest teams come out of bad-weather practices, and it helps to have turf fields. Every day is an opportunity for advantage. Go on now, git!
