Community concern is often a referendum on character

Brian Tappan, Cape student and lacrosse player, suffered a serious spinal injury after an ATV accident - that we all know. And, right or wrong, community concern is often a referendum on character which is doubly odd for a quiet kid like Brian who doesn’t seek the spotlight. He is more of a team guy and background guy.

“Great kid” are the two words used most often to describe Brian. I offered Brian this column to speak directly to the sports community whenever he wants to give them a break from me. Here is an email from earlier in the week:

“I really miss home. If you could in your next column just tell everyone thank you for all the cards and gifts and especially thanks for all the support.  Also I have an update on my condition.  I am regaining some sensation in my legs and today my physical therapist told me to squeeze my legs together and she felt muscle contractions.  This is a good sign and they are continuing to work with me three hours a day to get me better.  I will keep you updated if anything else crazy happens.” 

SIMPLER SUSSEX TIMES - Years ago locals knew everyone when they went to the store at the IGA or Tom Best. I remember the joke: “The population of Lewes always remains the same because every time a baby was born someone had to leave town.”

Now Lewes is littered with “Save Lewes” signs pegged in front yards of people who came here and changed the character and characters by overpricing the town and enacting pooper scooper laws and architectural review commissions and other “big city” changes as real locals like to call them.

I was totally accepted in the late ‘70s when standing in center field at a Little League game I poured a cold beer into a “huggy” with a hole in the bottom. The men around Terry Hudson’s pickup all spun away in laughter and I remember Terry saying, “That’s why we love you - you’re just as dumb as the rest of us.”

I received a postcard letter from Beverly McCarty this week - don’t get no more local - reminding me to pay attention to her three nieces, Brooke Bennett, Bre Faust and Diane Travis. And Beverly requested I lay off Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel - an old-school Lewes type of personality who looks somewhat like lawyer Doug Marshall - and especially Brad Lidge, whose profile reminds her of her late son Pat who passed away eight years ago on Nov. 14. Pat was a baseball guy and fixture at the Little League park. And I know that Bennett, Faust and Travis are generally nieces the way true locals track relatives. I am known as Uncle Fred inside the extended families of certain local African-American families.

‘Save Lewes,” but in reality many imports can’t handle real Lewes. “Oh, Happy Day!”

NOT A SPORT - Scott Kammerer and I concluded that a triathlon is not a sport because we have both done one in the past and couldn’t complete one in the present. We also concluded that “working out” has little to do with actual athletics - it’s just “working out.”

Basically, we fraternity brothers from the land of linemen and 18-inch calves, define the world to cast us in the best possible light - hopefully avoiding a fat shadow. Did you have anyone laugh at your shadow? There is not much to say especially if your dog uses it to shelter from the sun.

SNIPPETS - The Sussex County Dart League is looking for players to compete on Tuesday nights. The matches are held at local restaurants and pubs. For more information, call Charles Gouert at 381-2833.

“Where did these darts come from - I don’t appreciate sitting on them.”

“Honey, didn’t I tell you I’d be throwing on Tuesdays for the next five months. You know I don’t like the gym and I need some exercise and socializing. Don’t even think about throwing that at me unless you can hit a trip 20.”

There will be a lacrosse clinic at the former Ninth Grade Campus gym on Sundays, Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11 and 25. The times are 2-3:30 p.m. for ages 8-11 and 3:30-5 p.m. for ages 12-15. The cost is $30. Players need their own equipment. Any questions, email atlanticlaxcamp@aol.com.