There’s no way I have short-term lapses, only relapses

Last Saturday was a three-sport day that began with taking pictures of 700 runners rolling down a trail on a mission to finish what they started, whether a half or full marathon, then a field hockey state championship game followed by a state tournament football game as Sussex Tech hosted Caesar Rodney. The Raven football staff has people on there I have known the entire half-life I have spent in Sussex County. Sports are such a great deal – where else can you go and watch your longtime friends work while you drink hot chocolate?

LIGHTNING ROUND - I am the best long-term memory writer in the history of authors who actually craft their own words, unlike Andre Agassi, Sarah Palin and Charles Barkley, who claimed he was misquoted in his autobiography.

Last week in the course of three days I misspelled the name of coach Debbie Windett throwing the letter Y in place of I because of the Y in place of I after W obscure rule. Then I made a hair appointment with my friend of 20 years, Kim’s Hair Creations, but three hours later I forgot to show up.

And finally on Saturday morning I lined up volunteer marathon workers – shown here, left to right, Jennifer Cornell, Jessica Perez-Beebe and Tara Gush-Lausch – for a picture behind the split-rail fence. After much unnecessary banter about hyphenated names, I told them, “OK, you can come back from behind the fence and get back to your table” and they said, “But aren’t you going to take the picture?”

I call this “preoccupation with the next assignment” because I am always ahead of the moment I am in. There is no way I have short-term lapses, only relapses.

IT’S A CELEBRATION - Old media white guys with cameras and notebooks chasing down exuberant high school girls and their state championship trophy – I find it a rather freaky scene. And I am amazed how quickly those girls can fly together for a team photo pose sort of like a giant jellyfish - a Woman of War, if you will. “There’s One Tribe Y’all - We are one people!” I turned to my colleagues after the Tech Team moved to the goal for another posed photo and we all followed taking little steps. “I’m starting not to like these people,” I said humorously. “Top of mountain nirvana is great if you are tribal connected, but it doesn’t help me handle the crushing disappointment of losing the Philadelphia Catholic League basketball championship back in 1964.”

And now the “but seriously” transition: I couldn’t be happier for my friends coaches Nancy and Carolyn unless of course they were taking pictures of me.

FACES IN THE PLACES - I go to just about every event high school-related and remotely relevant to community just because it is the life mission of my alter ego character “Big Loser Boy.” But I have found there is no answer to “how come I didn’t see you there” other than “I don’t know, I guess because I wasn’t there.”

I do believe that if the goal of an athlete is to reach a state championship game and that goal is derailed, the healthy and sensible adjustment to a season-ending disappointment is to show up and watch the title game and shake the hands of your adversaries when it is over. Conspicuous by one’s absence is a cliché that rings true going back to my day, which is today by the way.

ROBIN FLIES AWAY - I broke all security rules before last Saturday’s state championship field hockey game and took my car-sized carcass on to the field to give Robin Adair a hug and to wish her good luck. Robin and I are emotionally bonded since she was my student back in 1983. Coach Robin has won 10 state titles but has also lost in four finals. You will not see her in any team celebration photos - she is always stepped back, hands in pockets, probably with the resting pulse of an elite marathon runner.

Robin played on a national championship team at Salisbury, is in the Sea Gulls’ Field Hockey Hall of Fame and will someday be in the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. I can tell you this, if there is a single successful person who can congratulate a winning coach and team and mean it, that person is Robin Adair.

SNIPPETS - The University of Maryland women’s soccer team lost in the Sweet 16 to the nation’s top team, North Carolina 1-0 on a goal scored in the final minutes of the game. Head athletic trainer and assistant field hockey coach Carolyn Maull was a trainer at Princeton before coming to the Raven Nation. Here is part of her resume: Field hockey – six NCAA showings, three times final four, ‘01 and ‘97 semifinals and ‘98 finals. Women’s lacrosse - numerous NCAA showings – 00 finals, 02 finals and won championship. University of Denver ‘95-’96 - NCAA men’s and women’s alpine and Nordic ski teams individual NCAA champions for events; Paralympics in Torino - three of my athletes got gold medals. ”I’ve been fortunate to work with so many talented athletes over the years on these teams and others that have made it to NCAA tournaments or reached personal bests,” Carolyn said. “They are memories and experiences few have the opportunity to encounter in a lifetime ... but none of them were as sweet as Sussex Tech taking home the trophy yesterday! I’m so proud of the girls and how hard they worked! I say it all the time, “going to battle with your high school buddies is just always the best!”