I could write a chapter on every player who was there

So long ago it was Jim Wilson’s first year as superintendent. He was wearing a three-piece, rust-colored suit - too much iron in the washer water - and he was touring the school district. I was teaching a seventh-grade geography class of multiple repeaters in Milton. They wore me out every day, and as always is the case with kids who play hard, when they are adults they often become some of your best friends and surprise you by being great parents. So, I’m teaching the class; Wilson is seated in row one, they are making fun of his suit but he doesn’t know it and I ask the class, “Has anyone here ever swum in the ocean?” I was prepared to tell them about rip currents and autumnal tides and other things of no relevance to nonswimmers. “I swam in half of it,” Jerome Parker said. I willingly snapped the bait. “Okay, I’ll bite, which half?” “Millpond,” Jerome said, and the class went bonkers! They remarked how stupid I was for letting Jerome set me up, saying, “You know that boy ain’t never swum in no ocean!” The joke was illogical to me and therefore not funny, and when I saw Jim Wilson laughing I was really confused.

Last Saturday morning on the cracked courts of Rehoboth Elementary it was a reunion of the old boys of the Shady Tree Lounge. Over the last 40 years a basketball player could always get game on Saturday morning in Rehoboth. And when Ezell Zachery, the artist formerly known as Zack Parker, took the court in cargo shorts and a long-sleeve white turtleneck, the barbs started to fly, with someone remarking, “He must have diabetes.” Everyone laughed and Zack said, “That’s a good one; I’ll have to remember that one.” It reminded my of the millpond joke, no logic, so I figured it must be in the delivery.

Kevin and Jimmy Brittingham showed up late in an old pick-up with a gas grill, bratwursts and breaded fish they caught. I told them to never go into witness protection because they were stamped Brittingham; it was undeniable. There were old resin chairs, a canopy, the guys brought their own trash can, there was water and some beer, but mostly stories of the old days and lots of laughing and friendship.

Joe “Philly” Snead told me he was sixth on the all-time list in the indoor high jump at 6-foot-6 and next thing I knew he was online with his BlackBerry to prove it. Eric Gooch brought his laptop to show me his daughter Lexi and her field hockey trip to Disney World. At another point I referred to Blaine Daisey and his Gregory Hines-looking self as the most unlikely-looking undercover brother ever and Blaine laughed, “Don’t start bringing my stuff into this.”

I grabbed Blaine Daisey and Jimmy Brittingham for a photo together and asked them why and they knew right away: “Kevin Kennedy Award.” Jimmy won the award in 1978 and Blaine in 1981; they were great kids back then and solid family and community men 30 years later. “Wimpy” Brittingham, now 44 years old, who never earned a varsity letter at Cape, is the undisputed king of recreational sports as an adult. Wimpy plays pick-up everything and also flag football, horseshoes and he is just one tough hombre.

Nate Frazier kept telling me he was 29 and he sank a 1956 NBA hook shot, but I remember Nate on my track team in 1976 and that was 34 years ago.

I could write a chapter on every player who was there last Saturday. Billy Bright loves reminding me of his funny quote, “Greg Skoglund is the only guy as good as he ever was.”

Snippets - The Phillies make no sense but I continue to watch them; it’s the old love/hate thing. Delaware hosts West Chester Thursday, Sept. 2, as Blue Hen fans will be screaming for blood instead of a 1A opponent. If Delaware loses to every team ranked ahead of it in the preseason polls, the regular season will be a disaster. I saw John Yore on ESPN last Sunday standing on the Good Counsel sidelines in the nationally televised high school game. Good Counsel beat Saint Xavier of Ohio 21-6. I am happy John landed in a good place and I know he misses his many friends at the beach - especially me.