Way cool mascot names and overcompensating camera lenses

Last Saturday an unusual cast of mascots visited Delaware with the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State at Delaware and the Rattlers of Florida A&M at Delaware State. I like both those names; I consider them way cool, and I once had a dog named Jackrabbit. Actually his name was Ox, but my sports writing mentor Dick Dougherty ask me the dog’s name in a dark driveway one late night and I felt stupid saying Ox so I admitted to Jack and he asked “Jack what?” And so it was Jack Rabbit, and Doc would go to Marek’s bar in Hulmeville after Friday night football, have a few beers, then introduce the Neshaminy High school starting lineup: “And at tailback, two-tone brown, always around town and 35 pounds from Penndel, number zero written under his tail, ‘Jack Raaaaabbit!’ Scamper to the left, scamper to the right, sit down, turn around, bite-bite-bite!”

Up scope! - I worked the University of Delaware football game last Saturday afternoon and never saw so many photographers I had never seen before with multiple cameras and big old kaleidoscopic and telescopic lenses, some wearing knee pads, others with little digital video cameras attached to their pole rigs and I thought, “It kind of looks like a casting tournament; you know, everybody overcompensating with their big trucks and racks and shelves for coolers and rods that could snatch a nearsighted bull walrus off a baking boulder.” I was lucky enough to see my front-row buddy Jay Stein, owner of Stuart Kingston on the Boardwalk where I purchased five Iranian rugs and don’t know about the politics but those jokes can do the loop de loop on some handmade rugs. Also responded to “Hey Fredman and your bad lens” and saw Cape athletes now Delaware matriculations Chris Woodruff and Veronica D’Amico. And finally because I’m all about band day, especially the flag corps, I found the three Cape girls in the back so we hung out and I got a picture of Cailyn Edwards, Jamie Haxton and Abigail Simonson.

Don’t look at me! - Deep in the second half at Indian River with the score 28-0 in Cape’s favor I looked across the field and sensed that Indians coach Paul Kmetz, a former Bucknell Bison starting quarterback, was staring at me.

I thought maybe he was thinking, “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Fredman?” and I’ve never stifled a football gloat before, but I tried to look dispassionately causal. The next day I got this email from my friend Paul, “There is great power in focus and conviction especially en masse. Cape kids showed powerful determination. You could see and feel it. Tell Bill, Herky and John good job.”

Snippets - This Saturday, Sept. 18, the 15th Annual Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon will take place at Delaware Seashore State Park at Tower Road, ocean side, with a 7:30 a.m. start. The event consists of a 1/2 mile ocean swim, 3.1-mile run and 7.5-mile bike ride. Some traffic congestion can be expected from about 7:30 a.m. until about noon. Spectators can watch along the beach or streets of Dewey or at the transition area in the state park. For more information call the YMCA at 302-296-YMCA.

This Saturday the ALS walk begins at 10 a.m. on the Boardwalk in Rehoboth. The local DeStasio family that so many of you know would be energized I know by your support and determination.

Think about it, how many places do you go where others are actually glad you showed up? Late in the day Saturday, grandchild one, Anna, asked, “Were you at our field hockey game?” “Yes I was, but actually no, but if you sensed my presence then most certainly yes.”

What is up with gigantic big-mouthed Snapple bottles? Up in the Eagles press box, fat white sportswriters are fixated on the stuff. I parked next to Vince Papale in the press parking lot; his license plate read “Invincible,” hey I just got it, what with his name being Vince and all. I want to dye my hair jet black like Vince.

Maybe I’ll just wear a rubber hen on my head like some Delaware fans. How ‘bout dem Cowboyz?