Happy is the heart of the long distance runner with a satisfied mind 

Happy at last - Let’s face it, some body types are better suited for distance running and others for shot putting or hammer throwing. Last week, between middle school and high school cross country, not to mention the Sea Witch Half-Marathon and 5K, I took 3,000 finish-line photos of runners from 12 to 85 years old. The leaner, wispy people in the front, with the thicker, less quicker ones toward the back. But there are the one-offs who run slow because it's more fun and less painful. Delmar freshman Lucas Evans was last in the Henlopen Conference varsity boys’ race, but he was the happiest runner I saw in two weeks. This handsome and fit 14-year-old ran 27:42, which relative to 5Ks I cover is really not that slow. Also, Dr. Jim Spellman, who was last in the Sea Witch half-marathon (his son Sam was third), cruised across the finish saying, “Am I last? I sure hope so.” 

Swoosh! Swoosh! Emmilyn Swope, who was slowed by a knee injury at the start of the season, was called up from JV for the quarterfinal game against Polytech and scored a second-period goal. The girl is irrepressible and indefatigable, a great teammate, the quintessential field hockey forward. And just another great high school sports story, a place where magic happens every day.  

Happy Freeman, unhappy Fredman - Freddie Freeman had the ball in his mitt after completing the World Series-clinching double play. He flashed his Mr. Ed smile and I pressed the TV button on the remote, sending my bedroom into heart of darkness mode before Freddie stepped off the first-base bag. Freeman is a good guy, but seeing him happy was a personal nightmare. Sports is often a mule kick to the midsection or even lower, to keep with the equine metaphors.

Replay booth - My home office sometimes looks like a replay booth as I am tracking up to five sporting events at a time while waiting for cyber updates on my phone from a network of birddogs and sports reporters. My preference from broadcasters and play-by-play reporters and analysts is “call the game, don't coach the game.” And when in doubt, just be quiet, and if you can help it, don’t read pizza promos followed by saying “the skinny post is wide open.”  

Here we go, yo - So what’s the scenario in terms of high school football playoffs? The playoffs are now the final week of the regular season for those not mathematically eliminated. You don’t even want to go to the tournament if you can’t win an end-of-season clinching game. This Friday night in Group 3, Cape (5-4) hosts St. Georges (5-4),  Sussex Central (4-5) plays at Smyrna (5-4) and Caesar Rodney (6-3) plays at Dover (1-8). 

Tabulations, permutations, calculations - Kenny Riedel can do the math in his head in real time, like Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting.” The varsity girls’ race at the Henlopen Conference Championships was a “Rainman” special. There were four teams within three points. The final order was Cape 73, CR 75, Smyrna 76 and Sussex Academy 76. Veteran coaches were saying they can't remember four teams within three points. I texted Kenny from the finish line. “Who won the girls’ race?” He knew off the top of his shaggy head, and I guarantee you he could link recording artist Shaggy to Bad Bunny.          

Snippets - I understand the sports gambling internet sites advertise and help bankroll professional football, but I don’t know anyone who gambles on the gambit of weekend games because losers don’t get up off that insider information after they take their money to the house and leave it all in the bonus room of depleted savings. Two games I didn’t see coming were Panthers over Packers and Steelers over Colts. The weekend results from the slate of games were filled by favorites who didn’t cover the spread. Practices for winter sports begin Monday, Nov. 10. An unwritten rule historically was athletes in transition were entitled to a week off between seasons, but that was a courtesy that has mostly gone by the boards, unless you're a blue-chip prospect. Travel showcases in warm places like Florida and Arizona also impact the talent pool. I know at Cape the coach makes the call, so check in before jetting off for a long weekend, and check in with the control tower and make sure the employees showed up for work. Go on now, git!