As I am waiting behind some random tourists departing the theme park, I am driven to jumping off the people mover and decide to walk along next to those to weary from their full day of fun. 99 out of 100 people have choosen this mode of transportation to get to their cars and the fact that it moves half as slow as a person walking normally has no effect on all those peeps. It's unfortunate but it's not just one location that the lazy are treated like royalty. We also have those people movers at the airports, the mall and my lord we even have them at supermarkets because people can not be bothered to push their ginormous shopping carts in and out of the store.
Can I get a little hustle people?
Now I am off my soapbox and will direct my energies to letting you know how a little hustle makes all the difference in sports.
Is it just me, when I see a high school or college basketball player diving out of bounds for a loose ball, it is for pure sportsmanship and desire but when I see a NBA player do the same I feel they just want to get on the highlight reel. You can have the pros. I'll take those school kids with floor burns on his elbows and knees any day.
I am at the Mets /Padres game, Bip Roberts is batting for the Pads, he lines a clean single to left center. The left fielder for the Mets (how many have they had?) is phoning it in. Bip sees this and turns his jets on and is heading toward second. You stand up out of your seat, you can stop from yelling at the left fielder to move faster than in slow motion. The throw comes in.. Bip is sliding spikes first... It's close, but Bippy Baby is in just under the tag.
Maybe more exciting than a home run, maybe.
I know some ball players have bad wheels(legs), some are just old (Julio Franco), most I am ashamed to admit it, are not hustling. But getting thrown at first on a hit to right field is unforgivable. You just hit the ball on the ground, say 150-200 feet from home plate. You have to run 90 feet. If your left hand batter is just bit shorter. Take some pride, run like your 10 years old. Run like your running in your bare feet. Just run.
A Walk is just four pitches that are not strikes. A Walk is a free pass to first base. Pete Rose walked to first base the best. He sprinted to the base. Almost happy that someone was giving him a free base and he couldn't wait to get to that base. His cap would fly off and damned if I didn't thing he would slide into first one time just to do it. If you were on his team, you loved him for it if you were on the opposing team you hated him for it. Me... loved it!!
Charlie Hustle belongs in the Hall.
I love the relief pitchers who when called in to pitch, run full speed from the bullpen to the mound. That's hustle baby! Remember the old days(for me that the 70's) when each team had huge Hat shaped golf carts to shuttle those relievers in. Some were even driven in the team mascots. (my fave, Phillie Phanatic)
They were so cool.
Why can't the two minute drill be run other than at the end of the half and the end of the game? I am not saying every possession, but you would think some team would try it more than twice a game. Jeez, give Peyton Manning a few opps like that and he would have 100 touchdown a year. Just saying.
A little more bashing for the NBA fan. Why does every player think they get fouled and then cry to the ref about not having a foul called. I know they get fouled every time but who wants to see a free throw shooting contest. My deal is when they are complaining , they are not playing defense and they are allowing the other team an advantage at the other end of the floor, usually resulting in two points for the opposition. Get back on D my boys!
I spent many a night staying up late to watch the US Open Tennis in New York. As well as slept on many a train after leaving Arthur Ashe stadium at 2AM. The night matches make the good players great and the underdogs seem unbeatable. I've seen Michael Chang run down shots that the normal tennis players would just give up on. His was cat like , he could turn on a dime and never got tired. Maybe it was the lights, maybe the full moon. The fans loved him for it.
Hustle never goes unappreciated.
Martina hustled on every point. This was Martina's game: Serve.. rush the net...volley... Serve... rush the net...volley. Relentless. Tennis at it's best.
How can it take six hour for the pro's to play 18 holes of golf? I can see us hackers taking a while, we have a few beers, play around in the golf carts,flirt with cart girl and take the one, ahem, two mulligans per side. But them, they just hit it and then walk to the ball and then hit it again.Maybe carts for hem would not be such a bad idea. Nice 64th place finish dude. Even nicer $45,000 check you got for that great finish. Maybe they are just Hustler's.
Thank you COT for ruining NASCAR.
Just let'em race and the fastest car wins.
Yarbarough- Allison fight(hustle/moxy)
Hey baseball pitchers... 4 hour games? Really? Is it really necessary for you to shake off the catcher 14 times before deciding to throw fastball?
Hey Bud, we are looking for Pitch clock.
So get your giddy up and keep a pep in your step because the sportfreak will be watching.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
My Baseball Mitt
I admit it, I love my baseball mitt. My mitt has been with me for so many years and has been there for all the ups (game saving catch in front of the big rock on St. Margaret's field) and downs (missing four foul balls, through the years, at good ol' Shea) of my entire sporting life. To most, it may seem to be just a piece of sports equipment, but to me it has been more than that.
Growing up,I was fascinated by the way the way they were made and how very different each glove was. A catchers mitts was so flat and seemed impossible to catch with (a catcher's mitt that you can't catch with...weird). The first baseman's glove was such a strange shape, it looked a little alien like to me (the blue ones were popular when I was a tyke). Outfielders gloves were just big, it was like catching with a basket. The infielders gloves were my choice, they were small and very flexible, just like an extension of your hand. My Ron Cey model was perfect.
My mitt went through hell. I would never do anything to any other item I owned that I have done to my mitt. We all follow some simple rules when you first get a new glove. First your supposed oil it, then your to put a ball in the mitt and wrap your glove closed with a rubber band. That's pretty much the rules of getting a glove in shape as directed by the Major League Glove Manufacturers.
Now here are all the other rules-rituals that made my mitt, my mitt.
Punch your fist in it, hay maker after hay maker, year after year, you really can't stop doing it when your glove is on your hand. Throw the ball into the glove 91.84 million times(my Mom would yell to stop playing catch in my bed and go to sleep).
Did you write on yours? I signed my name on the thumb. I've seen some with names and addresses, telephone numbers, player #'s, favorite team names. Even saw someon write their grilfriends name in it.
I threw my mitt a million times, sometime base to base, threw it on my way to home plate to bat from the mound. I threw it trying hit someone with it (sorry, baseball gets rough some time). I rolled it down the hill (hey I played on a hill, it rolled pretty good) I ripped it on the fence and then repaired it with shoes laces. shoe laces are the glue for baseball mitts. I hung it on the end of the bat, hit it with the bat, caught rocks with it.
I liked the taste of my mitt too. I chewed the leather. Come on... tell me y'all didn't do it too. I never spit in my mitt. Not sure why they do that, just kinda gross.
I always hated when my mitt got wet. The grip would turn too slimy.
Your glove is a perfect fit for your hand. I occasionally forgot my glove or needed to use another replacement glove during a pick up game, it was like playing a completely different ball game. You just don't just feel comfortable. Like your missing something. Missing a part of you. You miss "your" mitt.
I can't say I'm embarrassed, but I cried when I left my mitt on the field over night. I was like a kid on Christmas to find that it was still there the next morning.
Adults should never bring their mitt to the stadium. I heard this once or twice. Never sure who said it or why. But I am her to tell you that it makes my heart fill with baseball joy when I see a ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty year old fan carrying his mitt into the stadium. I know he is just hoping...just wishing that a foul ball come his way. They may close their eyes, they may have their eyes and mouth wide open can't really believing that the ball is coming right at them, as it approaches....do they catch it? ..That's joy is priceless.
I will cherish my grandpas old mitt,a 1930's model, I love that is still held together with a few shoes laces.
When I feel a little stressed or a little down, I pick up my mitt, give it a few pounds with my fists. For those few seconds or minutes, it will take me away to a time and place where everything is right in the world.
That's why the sportsfreak loves his mitt.
Growing up,I was fascinated by the way the way they were made and how very different each glove was. A catchers mitts was so flat and seemed impossible to catch with (a catcher's mitt that you can't catch with...weird). The first baseman's glove was such a strange shape, it looked a little alien like to me (the blue ones were popular when I was a tyke). Outfielders gloves were just big, it was like catching with a basket. The infielders gloves were my choice, they were small and very flexible, just like an extension of your hand. My Ron Cey model was perfect.
My mitt went through hell. I would never do anything to any other item I owned that I have done to my mitt. We all follow some simple rules when you first get a new glove. First your supposed oil it, then your to put a ball in the mitt and wrap your glove closed with a rubber band. That's pretty much the rules of getting a glove in shape as directed by the Major League Glove Manufacturers.
Now here are all the other rules-rituals that made my mitt, my mitt.
Punch your fist in it, hay maker after hay maker, year after year, you really can't stop doing it when your glove is on your hand. Throw the ball into the glove 91.84 million times(my Mom would yell to stop playing catch in my bed and go to sleep).
Did you write on yours? I signed my name on the thumb. I've seen some with names and addresses, telephone numbers, player #'s, favorite team names. Even saw someon write their grilfriends name in it.
I threw my mitt a million times, sometime base to base, threw it on my way to home plate to bat from the mound. I threw it trying hit someone with it (sorry, baseball gets rough some time). I rolled it down the hill (hey I played on a hill, it rolled pretty good) I ripped it on the fence and then repaired it with shoes laces. shoe laces are the glue for baseball mitts. I hung it on the end of the bat, hit it with the bat, caught rocks with it.
I liked the taste of my mitt too. I chewed the leather. Come on... tell me y'all didn't do it too. I never spit in my mitt. Not sure why they do that, just kinda gross.
I always hated when my mitt got wet. The grip would turn too slimy.
Your glove is a perfect fit for your hand. I occasionally forgot my glove or needed to use another replacement glove during a pick up game, it was like playing a completely different ball game. You just don't just feel comfortable. Like your missing something. Missing a part of you. You miss "your" mitt.
I can't say I'm embarrassed, but I cried when I left my mitt on the field over night. I was like a kid on Christmas to find that it was still there the next morning.
Adults should never bring their mitt to the stadium. I heard this once or twice. Never sure who said it or why. But I am her to tell you that it makes my heart fill with baseball joy when I see a ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty year old fan carrying his mitt into the stadium. I know he is just hoping...just wishing that a foul ball come his way. They may close their eyes, they may have their eyes and mouth wide open can't really believing that the ball is coming right at them, as it approaches....do they catch it? ..That's joy is priceless.
I will cherish my grandpas old mitt,a 1930's model, I love that is still held together with a few shoes laces.
When I feel a little stressed or a little down, I pick up my mitt, give it a few pounds with my fists. For those few seconds or minutes, it will take me away to a time and place where everything is right in the world.
That's why the sportsfreak loves his mitt.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Breakfast of Champions
As I am downing another mixing bowl full full of my favorite breakfast cereal I can't help but wonder which cereal some of our most popular and more obscure athletes enjoy for their most important meal of the day.
King Vitamin- Lebron James, Bernard King
Wheaties- Bruce Jenner and then every other famous athlete to follow.
Life- Barry Bonds
Capt Crunch- Derek Jeter, Cap' Anson, The Mallachi Brothers
Lucky Charms- Sanford's trombone player should have had his 27 years ago.
Pink hearts ,yellow moons, green clovers, blue diamonds
Special K- Nolan Ryan
Fruit Loops- Greg Louganis
Sugar Smacks- Sugar Shane Mosley, Sugar Ray Robinson Sugar Ray Leonard
Frosted "Mini" Wheats- Eddie Gaedel, Spud Webb, any Chinese gymnast, Tiny Archibald, Roy Smalley, Frank Short
Corn Flakes- Bill Lee, Rickey Henderson
Rice Krispies- Jerry (Hall of Famer),Jim (Hall of Famer),Simeon (Hall of Shame)
Count Chocula- long live John Montefusco
Franken Berry- Chico Escaula says it best "beisbol been berry berry good to me"
Cheerios- Manchester United
Boo Berry- Boo Weekley, Boo Boo Bear
Cinammon "Toast" Crunch- Zach Wheat, John Rye, Roy White, Joe Magraine, Somare Rolle
Post Super Sugar Crisp- Coco's brothers name
Fruity Pebbles- Steve Stone, Dwight Stones, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin
Apple Jacks- Jack Nicklaus, Jack Lambert, Jack Morris, Jackie Stewart
Alpha Bits- Mike Krzyzewski, Adimchinobe Echamandu, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala
Kix- Ronaldinho, David Beckham, Tom Dempsey
DON'T FORGET!!- Melky Cabrera
May your milk always be cold and your cereal never get mushy.
The sportsfreak is your most important reading of the day.
King Vitamin- Lebron James, Bernard King
Wheaties- Bruce Jenner and then every other famous athlete to follow.
Life- Barry Bonds
Capt Crunch- Derek Jeter, Cap' Anson, The Mallachi Brothers
Lucky Charms- Sanford's trombone player should have had his 27 years ago.
Pink hearts ,yellow moons, green clovers, blue diamonds
Special K- Nolan Ryan
Fruit Loops- Greg Louganis
Sugar Smacks- Sugar Shane Mosley, Sugar Ray Robinson Sugar Ray Leonard
Frosted "Mini" Wheats- Eddie Gaedel, Spud Webb, any Chinese gymnast, Tiny Archibald, Roy Smalley, Frank Short
Corn Flakes- Bill Lee, Rickey Henderson
Rice Krispies- Jerry (Hall of Famer),Jim (Hall of Famer),Simeon (Hall of Shame)
Count Chocula- long live John Montefusco
Franken Berry- Chico Escaula says it best "beisbol been berry berry good to me"
Cheerios- Manchester United
Boo Berry- Boo Weekley, Boo Boo Bear
Cinammon "Toast" Crunch- Zach Wheat, John Rye, Roy White, Joe Magraine, Somare Rolle
Post Super Sugar Crisp- Coco's brothers name
Fruity Pebbles- Steve Stone, Dwight Stones, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin
Apple Jacks- Jack Nicklaus, Jack Lambert, Jack Morris, Jackie Stewart
Alpha Bits- Mike Krzyzewski, Adimchinobe Echamandu, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala
Kix- Ronaldinho, David Beckham, Tom Dempsey
DON'T FORGET!!- Melky Cabrera
May your milk always be cold and your cereal never get mushy.
The sportsfreak is your most important reading of the day.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Do You Hear What I Hear?
I had watched the Angels -Yankees American League Championship Series and noticed how different each of the stadiums fans cheering sounded. One the one hand you have Yankee Stadium, hand clapping and yelling is the main form of rooting for the home team.(sorry new YS, the old YS was much louder). On the other hand Anaheim Stadium thunder sticks ruled the park. Honestly the thunder sticks suck. Appreciation is shown by clapping your hands not balloons.
Hands Down- Hands win.
Who doesn't like the organ being played at the stadium, too bad its dying out to the DJ mixing beats for each batter.
Did you ever notice that referees use whistles in Basketball, football, soccer, and hockey. Why not in baseball? there a few minor league baseball stadiums in Florida that ban whistles. Geez, if a pitcher can't ignore a whistle, god bless him when he gets to Yankees Stadium. He'll turn into Ed Whitson.
Nothing beats the old Pitch and Catch of the stadium peanut vendor.
Hey get your peanuts here! One bag over here, please.
Best P & C ever- Angels baseball game- thrown 19 rows and caught by lady one handed.
Sign'em up.
Funniest Line I ever heard at the ball park-
"Who cares, its a Dodger Fan" said at Petco Park after a line drive foul ball hit a fan in the head.
When you walk into a ball park, one thing make me smile every time. The "Smack" of the ball hitting the glove- It makes a POP or SLAP sound, I remember wanting every catch I made to make that same sound. That takes me back 35 years, I am sure it will be the same when it takes me back 95 years
Guilty Pleasure: College Marching Bands.
Now I've seen a few marching bands in my day and been to a few Battle of Band competitions. These bands are throwbacks to football yesteryear. If you school fight song is being played there is no way your are not waving your arms, or moving your body along with those playing it. The best college band I've seen is the Morehouse College Band, they are unbelievable.. high stepping, energetic, musically gifted.
2nd place- USC Trojans "Spirit of Troy" - The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe. I love the sunglasses.
I have noticed over the past few years that some of the stadium announcers are having trouble with their timing intoducing players. Padres announcers had trouble getting their intro of the next batter coming to the plate, My advice- don't announce the abtters name when they are still in the on-deck circle, the crowd cheers and then 20 seconds later he gets to home plate to dead silence.
I hear Crickets!
Bucs announcers- They have fireworks booming during player introductions. May work better if the fireworks spelled out the players names instead. Just a suggestion.
Is your football team so bad that your cheer every first down? This is sad.
Idea #1: Stadium announcers says FIRST- Fans say DOWN!
Every sport has a whislte/alarm to indicate the end of a quater, period or half. My beef is with halftime. Why is there no halftime Whistle Alarm to sound the end of Haltime and the beginning of the 3rd quarter/second half- dude sometimes I lose track of time during the half and now I'm stuck in the Turkey Leg line.
Wait for me! Stop the Game!
Where are the new and improved stadium fan chants. CHARGE! has to end.
clap calp clapclapclap is lame oh! See "ilovegamechants.com"
Best chant I ever heard at a game: Yankees Stadium Bleacher Creatures yelling to a Suit in 2nd tier box seats: JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!
Love or hate it: at Minor league/spring training games you can hear a pin drop its so quiet. Love it! You can shout what you want to the players and they'll hear you. The CRACK of the bat is not a canned sound (hello TV)
I wish more professional teams had their own team song, like my favorite: The Houston Oilers Song. How cool would it be to hear your team song blaring throughout the stadium everytime a Home Run is hit or a Touchdown scored or a Goal scored. Thousands of Fans singing. Awesome!
I have an idea for a Golf Tournament. I'd call it the Let's Get Loud Tournament.
Here's how it would work. Cameras are allowed. Noise is allowed. Need I say more.
The fans at the The Americas Cup try and so do the fans at the US Open when played in New York. But they fall way short of what I am looking to do.
There are a lot of younger golfers who would love a tournament like this. Christ the sponsors alone would pay for everything. Just Imagine: Bands at the tee boxes or on the 18th green.
I can see KJ Kim- Teeing off to JayZ blasting through the speakers.
How about Tiger teeing off to Eye of the Tiger!
nuff said
Through his bullhorn, the sportsfreak has spoken.
Hands Down- Hands win.
Who doesn't like the organ being played at the stadium, too bad its dying out to the DJ mixing beats for each batter.
Did you ever notice that referees use whistles in Basketball, football, soccer, and hockey. Why not in baseball? there a few minor league baseball stadiums in Florida that ban whistles. Geez, if a pitcher can't ignore a whistle, god bless him when he gets to Yankees Stadium. He'll turn into Ed Whitson.
Nothing beats the old Pitch and Catch of the stadium peanut vendor.
Hey get your peanuts here! One bag over here, please.
Best P & C ever- Angels baseball game- thrown 19 rows and caught by lady one handed.
Sign'em up.
Funniest Line I ever heard at the ball park-
"Who cares, its a Dodger Fan" said at Petco Park after a line drive foul ball hit a fan in the head.
When you walk into a ball park, one thing make me smile every time. The "Smack" of the ball hitting the glove- It makes a POP or SLAP sound, I remember wanting every catch I made to make that same sound. That takes me back 35 years, I am sure it will be the same when it takes me back 95 years
Guilty Pleasure: College Marching Bands.
Now I've seen a few marching bands in my day and been to a few Battle of Band competitions. These bands are throwbacks to football yesteryear. If you school fight song is being played there is no way your are not waving your arms, or moving your body along with those playing it. The best college band I've seen is the Morehouse College Band, they are unbelievable.. high stepping, energetic, musically gifted.
2nd place- USC Trojans "Spirit of Troy" - The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe. I love the sunglasses.
I have noticed over the past few years that some of the stadium announcers are having trouble with their timing intoducing players. Padres announcers had trouble getting their intro of the next batter coming to the plate, My advice- don't announce the abtters name when they are still in the on-deck circle, the crowd cheers and then 20 seconds later he gets to home plate to dead silence.
I hear Crickets!
Bucs announcers- They have fireworks booming during player introductions. May work better if the fireworks spelled out the players names instead. Just a suggestion.
Is your football team so bad that your cheer every first down? This is sad.
Idea #1: Stadium announcers says FIRST- Fans say DOWN!
Every sport has a whislte/alarm to indicate the end of a quater, period or half. My beef is with halftime. Why is there no halftime Whistle Alarm to sound the end of Haltime and the beginning of the 3rd quarter/second half- dude sometimes I lose track of time during the half and now I'm stuck in the Turkey Leg line.
Wait for me! Stop the Game!
Where are the new and improved stadium fan chants. CHARGE! has to end.
clap calp clapclapclap is lame oh! See "ilovegamechants.com"
Best chant I ever heard at a game: Yankees Stadium Bleacher Creatures yelling to a Suit in 2nd tier box seats: JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!
Love or hate it: at Minor league/spring training games you can hear a pin drop its so quiet. Love it! You can shout what you want to the players and they'll hear you. The CRACK of the bat is not a canned sound (hello TV)
I wish more professional teams had their own team song, like my favorite: The Houston Oilers Song. How cool would it be to hear your team song blaring throughout the stadium everytime a Home Run is hit or a Touchdown scored or a Goal scored. Thousands of Fans singing. Awesome!
I have an idea for a Golf Tournament. I'd call it the Let's Get Loud Tournament.
Here's how it would work. Cameras are allowed. Noise is allowed. Need I say more.
The fans at the The Americas Cup try and so do the fans at the US Open when played in New York. But they fall way short of what I am looking to do.
There are a lot of younger golfers who would love a tournament like this. Christ the sponsors alone would pay for everything. Just Imagine: Bands at the tee boxes or on the 18th green.
I can see KJ Kim- Teeing off to JayZ blasting through the speakers.
How about Tiger teeing off to Eye of the Tiger!
nuff said
Through his bullhorn, the sportsfreak has spoken.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Low Tech to No Tech
We were low tech
When I was a just a boy we never had all the fancy doohickeys (they still use that word right?)that the promising children of the present have nowadays. My nephew had earphones on and was staring into his PSP 2 inch screen directing the Planet of the Apes on another adventure. Me at his age - PONG!
I do however have fond memories of the spending countless hours with the guys playing the best hand held video game of all time: Mattel Electronic Football
How cool was that game. The Offensive Team was the 'Thin" red light and the Defensive team the "Thick" red lights. I can still remember pressing the < > key so much my hands and fingers would start cramping. Run..Thin Red Light..Run.
I can still picture, Mario, Lenny, Kenny and I kneeling for hours, screaming and yelling for our teams to score during the most realistic football board game known to man. I give you: Electronic Vibrating Football.
As you probably remember, most of the 22 players would end up in a cluster somewhere on the sideline while the remainder ran in circles in the center of the field. But sometimes , just sometimes your running back with hit the opening your buzzing lineman created perfectly and he would be in the clear, buzzing along, you hoping that he does not pull a "TURN LEFT NOW" at the last second. No other player within 20 yards. He.. could.. go...all.. the.. way!
It was pandemonium when he crossed the goal line.
Well that was about it for us kids electronically. The rest was up to us.
At the bus stop we played a made up game of curb ball. Using baseball rules, it was throwing a ball onto the corner of the curb so that it flew across the street to where the other team was playing defense. Just throwing was not the way did it, some of us would stand 3 or feet away and throw it at the curb, some would take a running start(that always makes it faster, right?) and some of us would just stand right above the curb and fling it as fast as we could. Games were always quick (the bus was coming remember?) and some times painful. We used a tennis or racket ball. The tennis ball was more forgiving. One time, I thought I was going to see everything for the rest of my life with a little tint of yellow fuzz the first time the ball ricocheted from my hand to the curb to my eye. The girls at the bus stop got a kick out of me crying on the bus. Stupid girls
With boredom comes "Kick the Can". This was the simplest of games. Lets see if I can remember correctly... one oil can(it once came in cans)... me and my friend 50 feet apart from each other... kick the can... have it stand straight up.... SCORE!
I never said it was rocket science. But I can still see the can flying, oil spraying then getting bent because half of that oil was on my pants. Holy cripes! I smelled like a grease monkey for the whole school day. How stupid. How fun.
I think Kenny came up with this doozey to play. How is this for using that pent up 10 year old energy. The event: Around the Block Run. We would time ourselves like they do during a 5K run, cept our run was up Blue Point Road(I swear its like 70 degree hill) then down Rose Place (help me, I can't slow down!)I used to hate to play this game but wound up loving it. 10 years old , whatever it takes, right?
The Gladiators or Ninja Warriors had nothing on us kids. Our obstacle course, went a little something like this.. run from the Lombardos driveway thru the Lombardo gate, around their pool(two times), jump or take the ladder over the Kubicskos back fence, and then over their side fence, around their house back through their side gate, over the Mucci fence , jump over the Lombardo fence then back over it, run through the Mucci gate, run down the Lombardo lawn and slide into the home base.
No wonder I slept like a baby at night.
?kaerfstrops a uoy a erA
When I was a just a boy we never had all the fancy doohickeys (they still use that word right?)that the promising children of the present have nowadays. My nephew had earphones on and was staring into his PSP 2 inch screen directing the Planet of the Apes on another adventure. Me at his age - PONG!
I do however have fond memories of the spending countless hours with the guys playing the best hand held video game of all time: Mattel Electronic Football
How cool was that game. The Offensive Team was the 'Thin" red light and the Defensive team the "Thick" red lights. I can still remember pressing the < > key so much my hands and fingers would start cramping. Run..Thin Red Light..Run.
I can still picture, Mario, Lenny, Kenny and I kneeling for hours, screaming and yelling for our teams to score during the most realistic football board game known to man. I give you: Electronic Vibrating Football.
As you probably remember, most of the 22 players would end up in a cluster somewhere on the sideline while the remainder ran in circles in the center of the field. But sometimes , just sometimes your running back with hit the opening your buzzing lineman created perfectly and he would be in the clear, buzzing along, you hoping that he does not pull a "TURN LEFT NOW" at the last second. No other player within 20 yards. He.. could.. go...all.. the.. way!
It was pandemonium when he crossed the goal line.
Well that was about it for us kids electronically. The rest was up to us.
At the bus stop we played a made up game of curb ball. Using baseball rules, it was throwing a ball onto the corner of the curb so that it flew across the street to where the other team was playing defense. Just throwing was not the way did it, some of us would stand 3 or feet away and throw it at the curb, some would take a running start(that always makes it faster, right?) and some of us would just stand right above the curb and fling it as fast as we could. Games were always quick (the bus was coming remember?) and some times painful. We used a tennis or racket ball. The tennis ball was more forgiving. One time, I thought I was going to see everything for the rest of my life with a little tint of yellow fuzz the first time the ball ricocheted from my hand to the curb to my eye. The girls at the bus stop got a kick out of me crying on the bus. Stupid girls
With boredom comes "Kick the Can". This was the simplest of games. Lets see if I can remember correctly... one oil can(it once came in cans)... me and my friend 50 feet apart from each other... kick the can... have it stand straight up.... SCORE!
I never said it was rocket science. But I can still see the can flying, oil spraying then getting bent because half of that oil was on my pants. Holy cripes! I smelled like a grease monkey for the whole school day. How stupid. How fun.
I think Kenny came up with this doozey to play. How is this for using that pent up 10 year old energy. The event: Around the Block Run. We would time ourselves like they do during a 5K run, cept our run was up Blue Point Road(I swear its like 70 degree hill) then down Rose Place (help me, I can't slow down!)I used to hate to play this game but wound up loving it. 10 years old , whatever it takes, right?
The Gladiators or Ninja Warriors had nothing on us kids. Our obstacle course, went a little something like this.. run from the Lombardos driveway thru the Lombardo gate, around their pool(two times), jump or take the ladder over the Kubicskos back fence, and then over their side fence, around their house back through their side gate, over the Mucci fence , jump over the Lombardo fence then back over it, run through the Mucci gate, run down the Lombardo lawn and slide into the home base.
No wonder I slept like a baby at night.
?kaerfstrops a uoy a erA
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