Reasonable people don’t like jumping into agitated waters

I love Logan Pavlik and her seven siblings and would have expected nothing less than her response after the 4-1 Sussex Tech field hockey win at Delmar, where she scored the game’s first goal. I asked, “Why did you steal Kelsey Doherty’s goal?” and she responded, “Leave me alone, Fredman. Whatever Maxine said to you, just say Logan said that too.” She turned to a teammate and said, “Maybe if I give really bad interviews, he won’t talk to me anymore.” Logan is pure player, not interested in glory of any kind, which is cool with me. What I find interesting is that this athlete, who can take her game to the next level if she pleases, already sees her career path as going to Delaware Tech in Georgetown and after two years getting a degree and certification as an occupational therapist. To borrow a phrase from the Seinfeld program, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” It’s just different that, with so many women in sports seeking athletic scholarships, this player, who in my opinion makes any team at any level she tries out for, will pass down her stick at the end of the season. Hey Logan, if you autograph it “To Fredman, my favorite sportswriter. I don’t like any of them,” I will pay you for it.

Soccer’s sad story - The Cape soccer team finished 8-4-3 on the season as the last two games brought disappointing results. After the Vikings upset Sussex Tech 1-0, they went on to a scoreless overtime tie versus Sussex Central and a 2-0 loss to Smyrna most probably to assuredly knocking Cape from the state tournament. That might be a blessing, considering the behavior of some players and parents Monday night filtering down to students, some of whom looked all too happy to follow bad examples of out-of-control adults. “The officials took the game away from us” or – my personal favorite – “That’s what happens when the officials let things get out of hand” are comments usually blurted from adults out of control themselves, at times to such a degree that they should be booted from the stadium. “Nicely done, see you all later; in life’s game of 50/50 balls, you score 49 percent.” There are so many great kids and families in the varsity and junior varsity soccer programs, and I feel bad that they had to put up with so much nonsense. Reasonable people don’t like jumping into agitated waters, but the chronically annoyed doggie paddle in that tank every day. There is no personal responsibility, and everything is someone else’s fault. The Cape soccer program belongs to Cape, and it’s time to take it back! Enough nonsense, already! Anyone who doesn’t like it should pack a bag and go chase a travel team.

Crushed! - I was a scholarship basketball player at Temple in 1964, a Philly star of stars, but during an overtime freshman loss to Saint Joe’s I never got off the bench, and I went into a full-blown, dejected depressive identity crisis and rode the Broad Street subway up and down for hours just staring into dark space. Last Friday night I saw big Jake Farrell of Cape, a 6’5” junior somewhere north or south of 350 after losing 40 pounds and making every practice, not get into the game against Milford. Jake had that same look I had 46 years earlier. The thing is, Jake is a hero to the coaches and me and others because he is powering through pain and working to achieve his own level of greatness. He will, but he must stay the course and stay in the struggle.

Coach Collick quickly left the post-game celebration, knowing he missed something with Jake, realizing it was a mistake and the big boy should have played. Now the job begins of winning him back. It’s all a day in the life of athlete and coach.

Snippets - Dan Cook and I were “down to Delmar” last Tuesday catching the field hockey game between Sussex Tech and Delmar. A few people asked, “What are you guys doing here – are you lost?” I always answer “Show time, baby! We follow the action because we can!” Cape football (5-3) at Sussex Central (5-3) on Friday night, Nov. 5, is another homecoming, the fourth of the season for Cape football. Central stars Brandon Lewis and Matt Cleary both began their careers at Cape.

If Central beats Cape, the Knights win the northern division of the Henlopen Conference and the automatic slot in the upcoming Division One state tournament.

Colts go to the Eagles for the late Sunday game. Payton Manning is worth the price of admission. Biggest losers are Eagles fans still busting on Donovan McNabb. That, to me, is revealing of some deep-rooted personal issues. And take off that Favre jersey!