Beefalo Brigade and biodegradable biographies

Beefalo Brigade -The King Cole Ranch had hybrid livestock. Back in the day, they were called beefalos, a cross between a domestic bull and a bison cow, and that’s as far as I want to go. I’ve been calling Cape offensive linemen beefalos going back 20 years, and with the poundage of this year's herd, it’s time to bring it back. I got no jokes. I'm staying right down the middle on this one.  

Biodegradable - I can go deep breaking down personal biographies fueled by an inquisitive nature and a genuine interest to find out who people are in the here and now. Graduation ceremonies: The imagery to me is like a small boat riding a one-way current under archways that represent rites of passage. There are rough rapids ahead, and sometimes you get to toss ballast overboard, but most times you don’t – best to just strap on a lifejacket and pray. My late friend Bruce Hefke used to say, “I hope everything is hunky and/or dory.” But many times life is neither. High school graduations are all about families and histories, the honors and championships, but also a time of reflection on the tough times shared as the individual journeys into a future unknown. 

Gilbert Maull - He was born June 5, 66 years ago. I walked into his world in the late summer of 1975 as a teacher and coach from Philadelphia. I talked fast and funny, chopping letters from words. Gilbert was Cape's left-handed quarterback and a hurdler/sprinter on the track team. We would win a state championship together. I had the talent to make athletes laugh while leery; they just didn’t trust when I might bite. We have shared life's journey for the last 49 years. Smart and funny, and a compassionate soul for kids. Happy birthday, Gilbert. Watch out for Mike Meade in the 100-yard dash on that cinder track at Dover. And a Hallmark card birthday greeting from Davey: “Yo, what's up, buddy?" 

Air-pumped - I stood outside the University of Virginia football locker room in 1994, as the Wahoos took the field to play Florida State. The offensive linemen wore short shirts, proudly protruding their bellies inflated like truck tires, not flabby or jello-moldy. Add a 500-pound bench press to the body mass configuration and you have a decreased life expectancy on the back end. Everyone knows that small dogs outlive and outrun big dogs, plus they pant less – not to be confused with pantless. A study by Dr. Chinta Sidharthan in the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences reads, in part, “Longevity among football players is also dependent on the position of the player, with defense and offense linemen being exposed to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and traumatic brain injury.” Larry Allen, a former Dallas Cowboys all-pro offensive lineman, died suddenly last week at age 52. No cause of death has been announced. 

Salesianum state titles - Salesianum won nine state titles this 2023-24 school sports season, so let's take a look at who they beat to accomplish this feat. Sallies beat runner-up Cape Henlopen in four finals, including football, soccer, lacrosse and outdoor track. Caesar Rodney placed second three times in finals, including cross country, indoor track and baseball. Charter was runner-up in volleyball, while Saint Mark’s was second in swimming. Dover beat Sallies in the boys’ basketball finals, while Sussex Central was the state wrestling champion. 

Super softball - I’ve watched college softball since the regionals began and through the super regionals, and I’m looking forward to the finals between Texas and Oklahoma. I watched it not because I thought I should and not because I have a relative who played. I watched it because it is an intriguing game played by likable young athletes. I watched the college women's lacrosse tournament, and anything track and field I could watch all day. I’ve watched some WNBA games, including the much-talked-about Chicago Sky at Indian Fever game, but I’m not liking it, and I prefer the Phillies. 

Snippets - Misericordia University (43-10) beat the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (44-11) 12-9 June 4 in the first game of a best-of-three Division III World Series. The games are being played in East Lake, Ohio. Owen Daminger, former Cape player, served as a pinch runner for the Cougars of Misericordia in Game 1. Game 2 was scheduled for 11 a.m., Thursday, June 6. Misericordia has never won a national championship in any sport. Owen Daminger is the grandson of the late Joe Lobiondo. Wisconsin -Whitewater won game two 16-10  forcing a deciding games three for the D3 National Championship. Misericordia beat Wisconsin -Whitewater 10-5 for the D3 national championship  Go on now, git!