We lasted seven before being kicked off for breaches of etiquette

Sixteen-year-old Kameron Chandler, a student athlete and dynamic personality with natural leadership qualities based on his strong Christian beliefs, passed away June 17 at A.I du Pont hospital after battling leukemia. Kameron had played freshman football for the Sussex Tech Ravens and was an avid fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kameron is described by everyone whose life he touched as simply “one great kid.” Kids like Kameron leave a powerful legacy of inspiration to the kid inside all of us to just be better people. KC and his Sunshine Band of friends are all so lucky to have shared in his life.

FORE PLAY - Picture a half dozen Temple football linemen in a Broad Street basement in 1964 taking an 8 a.m. half-credit class in golf taught by the coach. The Owls were a Division I program and to quote Charlie Brown, “Find the bush league and we are three leagues below that.”

But after swinging clubs indoors to such musical gems as “April in Paris” and “Some Enchanted Evening,” our fearsome foursome of Converse high-top-wearing working class nondeclared majors were set free on the links of the Whitemarsh Country Club to play 18 holes. We lasted seven before being kicked off for several breaches of etiquette, many of which involved variations of the “You’ve been ‘fore’ warned” rule.

CLASS REUNION - A combined Cape class reunion from the years 1982 through 1986 will be held on July 11 at Block House Pond in Lewes. And don’t ask what this has to do with sports because I can show up and find all kinds of sports stories.

Keith Heck and Laurie Jenkins Anderson have been organizing the event and there is a website (capehenlopen84.com) along with Facebook and Classmates online networking. I may show up to bless the fleet and, speaking of big boats, don’t worry that you don’t look like your high school yearbook picture because no one cares and no one likes perfect people anyway.

POWER FAILURE - The Little League adult crowd that rims the chain link fences of Sussex County was pretty much agitated last week after several games for 10-year-olds went over three hours for six innings and, at other times, no one in charge had a clue how to “stop the slaughter” of games gone wild. Here’s a basic suggestion: After four innings and 10-run differential the game is stopped! No last bats - just stopped!

And the tournament director has the ultimate authority to stop any game that becomes too tilted toward one town so as to prevent a war in the stands. And I’ll get in trouble for this, but the pitch count rules have wreaked havoc on the game by over strategizing and multiple use of backup pitchers who can’t throw strikes. Just have a no-curve-ball rule - the kid is tossed on the second bender.

TITANS AND TOWNSEND - There was a bit of a reunion and celebration last Monday night at Fish On to celebrate the drafting of Tyler Townsend by the Baltimore Orioles. Tyler has yet to sign with the club but is expected to reach agreement any minute.

ZAMBIA FRIEND - I spotted Lloyd Sutukali on the Boardwalk before the Father’s Day race last Sunday and he reminded me of a Penn Relays masters runner. I just had to meet the man, get a picture and quick biography. Lloyd is from Zambia, having come to the United States 16 years ago. He lives in Charlottesville and is associated with the University of Virginia. Lloyd speaks beautifully accented English and has that gentleness and friendliness found in so many educated Africans.

A quote from Lloyd: “I run for fun and life. Running is both my journey and destiny. I survive by running.”

Lloyd, 47 years old, ran 22:06 in the race. I sent him a picture and he responded with this email: “Dave, thanks for the race pics, but above that, thanks so very much for your excellent public relation skills, friendship and gesture of goodwill.”

POCONO TRIO - I met and interviewed recent 18-year-old graduates of North Pocono High School before last Sunday’s Father’s Day race. They and their times are Bernadetta Berbatowitcz, 25:48; Kaitlyn Facciponti, 27:46; and Jessica McCauley, 22:59. Just nice to see some young people up early and ready for a healthy athletic challenge.

SNIPPETS - If driving a race car qualifies a person as an athlete, then so does driving on Route 1 in the summertime. I call it crosswalk overconfidence syndrome; I just wish that those on foot or bikes would realize that you cannot win an argument with a car not expecting to see you. I am super defensive and still the unexpected always occurs on Route 1 because if you miss what is in front of you that doesn’t mean you aren’t getting whacked from the rear. And somewhere in there is a joke.