You have to be a sociopath not to return respect

I am clever, witty, entertaining and insightful, blessed with a depth and breadth of knowledge across a Harvard-like cross section of subjects from mathematics to medicine encompassing philosophy, religion and the history of sports. And I don’t care how many people fall asleep in my face while I’m speaking or decide it’s a good idea to refill their stapler or restring their shoes or exclaim, “I have to get this!” even though their cell phone is turned off. I am morphing into the guy who talks too much. Ask me a simple question, then run to the digital hoagie selector and hope when you turn around I am gone. Enjoying the sound of your own voice is an inside-out message of the diaphragm, and sometimes I am impressed by my own cleverness. That’s why I’m never talking again. Grandmom Rose told me when I was 14, “Someday you will discover that another finds you interesting – just know that one of you is delusional.”

DOWNSIDE OF NICENESS - Cape Principal John Yore became my friend since coming to Cape. I’d take a bullet for the guy because I’m loyal like an SPCA collie. I totally agree that a school district should be structured to allow the movement of administrators to jobs where they are most effective or – going with past history – the least ineffective. I work the sports beat, and I’ve never dealt with a principal on Yore’s level who attended more games and waited until games were over to shake kids’ hands, win or lose. Yore would never “downtown” a kid or coach. He became a loyal Cape Guy. And so the recent news that Yore would no longer be principal at Cape, effective July, is not popular with me; and yes, I do feel he is being made a scapegoat, which means 47 people on the job are smiling then pointing at him when his back is turned. We educate kids but almost never resource their opinions or solicit their input. Cape students like their principal, John Yore, because he respects them, and you have to be a sociopath not to return respect to a person who believes in you.  Trust me, kids get it!

FREAKISHLY FIT! There are personal trainers who count repetitions for you at the gym for 50 dollars an hour and then there are strength and conditioning coaches who train competitive athletes using state-of-the-art methods based on scientific research. It’s all about flexibility, explosion and endurance and developing core body strength. Athletes who get freakishly fit in the off-season always find their way onto the field. If you ever catch your trainer looking at himself or herself in a mirror while training you, it’s time to get a new one.

MILLROSE GAMES - The 103rd Millrose Games will be run Friday, Jan. 29, at Madison Square Garden. There is a 60-meter race featuring five guys who have played in Super Bowls, including Willie Gault, 49 years old, and Tim Dwight. Gault holds an indoor age group record. He ran the 200 meters in 21.8 at 47 years of age – slower than Usain Bolt (19.19) but fast enough to beat all outdoor high school sprinters in Delaware. Gault was on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that boycotted the Moscow games, thanks to Jimmy Carter, but he did win a gold medal at the 1988 winter Olympics as a bobsledder. Herschel Walker, now 49 years old, will compete in a mixed martial arts bout Jan. 30. Walker claims to suffer from multiple personality disorder and is a born-again Christian and scary fit dude with a sixth degree black belt. “I just want to go into the ring and knock the other guy out,” Walker told Jim Rome in an interview.

SNIPPETS - Atlantic Lacrosse will hold its last open registration from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31, at Beacon Middle School. Boys and girls intending to play this spring may register.  At 9 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, all local tennis players are invited to attend and support the Hit for Haiti tennis tournament in Rehoboth Beach. The suggested donation for the tournament is $15 and all proceeds will be directed to the American Red Cross. For information or to register, contact Marty at 226-1697 or 310-418-5000 or email martybgodwin@aol.com or at martygodwintennis.com.

The Cape wrestling team goes on the road three times over five days, grappling at Lake Forest Friday, Jan. 29, Sussex Central at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, and Smyrna, Wednesday, Feb. 3, before hosting Sussex Tech Friday, Feb. 5.  Like a ball of frozen taffy, that is a rough stretch.